ENGLISH METRICAL 
HOMILIES. 



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FAC-smiLE of MS. 



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- — MT ^iTinr -'-ifim •' ir-rtm 






/j?'('..?7. •'>''■■ I- 



ft4t ef nil ncac dlUr«Wttl)W 




nelifh Pletrical Hlomilies 




MANUSCRIPTS OF THE FOURTEENTH CENTURY 



WITH 



An Introduction and Notes 

JOHN SMALL, M.A. 

Librarian, Univerfity, Edinburgh 




IVILLIAM PATERSON, 74 PRINCES STREET 

M.DCCC.LXII. 



---"-^-1^- 



Pnitltd Ij Will (f (''.iiijmiri, K.!::! ui^/i. 



Introduction. 




F the ancient Englifh devotional MSS. which have efcaped 
the ravages of dme, perhaps not the leafl interefting is a 
Colleflion of Metrical Homilies or Paraphrafes on thofe por- 
tions of the Gofpels which were read at the ufual fervices 
of the Church. 

This CoUeftion is remarkable in many refpefts, more efpecially from 
its containing numerous legends of faints and illuftrative tales, which 
mufl have rendered it a very popular book in the Middle Ages. At 
the fame time thefe legends in all probability marked it out as an 
objeft of mutilation or deftruftion at the period of the Reformation, 
when fo many memorials of the former religion were deflroyed by the 
zeal of the reformers — a zeal which was eipecially direfted againil: 
books ufed in the fervice of the Church, or in the private devotions 
of the people. 

Fortunately, however, there are preferved in the Manufcript Col- 
leftions of the Univerfities of Oxford and Cambridge, the Britifti 
Mufeum, and the Lambeth Library, London, complete copies of this 
feries of Homilies, which, though verfified, afford a graphic view of 
the ftyle of popular preaching at the end of the thirteenth and the be- 
ginning of the fourteenth centuries. 



Introduction. 



A rubric at the end of one of thefe MSS. preferved in the Univerfity 
of Cambridge, fiipplies the title of the Colle6fion, which is — 

" l^omiiuf alia (iEbangelia tt JHiracuIa haXtit bona tt notabilia 
in Eingua ^nslicana.** 

The objeft of the Collection appears to have been to afford a 
metrical fervice for the Sundays and Feftivals from 'Advent onwards 
throughout the year. Each fermon is appropriately illuftrated by a 
fcriptural narrative, a legend from the lives of the faints, or a popular tale 
analogous to the ancient Yrenchfab/iaux, to render it more attractive to 
the common people, for whofe benefit the Colleftion was compofed. 

The various MSS. which exift in England are carefully defcribed 
in the printed catalogues of the collecftions where they are preferved, 
and the following is a lift of five copies to be found in the libraries 
above mentioned, none of which are earlier than the middle of the 
fourteenth century ; — 

Cambridge Univerfity MS., . . D d I. I.' 

. . GgV. 31.^ 

Afhmolean MS., Oxford, . . No. 42.? 

Cottonian MS., London, . . Tiberius, E. VII.* 

Lambeth MS., „ . . No. 260.5 

The prefent vokime is printed from an ancient MS. preferved in the 
Library of the Royal College of Phyficians at Edinburgh. This MS. 
contains various fragments of ancient Englifli devotional poetry, toge- 
ther with that portion of the Colle(ffion of Sermons which extends from 
the firff Sunday in Advent to the end of the iervice for the Purification. 



• Catalogue of Camh. MSS., vol. i., pai^c i. 

^ Do. do., vol. iii., page 199. 

I Catalogue of Afhmolean MSS , by Mr Black, page 63 

4 Catalogue of the MSS. in the Cottonian Library, 1H02, page 40. 

5 Catalogue of Lanibeth MSS., No. 260. 



Introduction. in 



The fermons are defective, however, in many places ; but the portions 
wanting are fiipplied in the prefent volume by extrafts from the Cam- 
bridge MS. Gg V..31., and the Afhmolean MS. No. 42. 

Although the portion of this Colle<5fion of Sermons now printed 
forms but a part of the whole, it pofTefTes fome points of philological 
intereft, while the age of the original MS. — being apparently of the 
early part of the fourteenth century — tends to fhow that it is probably 
of a much older date than any of thofe p refer ved in the Englifh libraries. 

With regard to the authorfhip of this interefting Colleftion, nothing 
can with any certainty be affirmed. The learned compilers of the 
Catalogue of Manufcripts belonging to the Univerfity of Cambridge, 
when defcribing the volume marked D d I. I , which contains probably 
the oldeft copy of this MS. in England, flate the time at which it was 
written as fubfequent to the year 1 345. This period is inferred from 
certain references to perfons and dates occurring in various poetical 
treatifes contained in the volume, the whole of which is uniformly 
written throughout. They alio conclude that from thefe refer- 
ences, and from peculiarities in the language, the authorfhip may be 
attributed to the famous Hermit Richard Rolle, of Hampole, near 
Doncafler, who died in 1348, although it has not been included in the 
lift of works certainly known to be his. 

This conclufion principally refls on the many allufions in the illuflra- 
tive legends to incidents in hermit life, and the occurrence of the fol- 
lowing lines, which form the concluding portion of a poem, " De 
Compaffione Beate Marie Virginis," included in the volume Ddl. I, 
and in the fame handwriting as the Metrical Sermons ; — 

" This ryme mad an hermyte 
And dide it wryten in parchemyn 
Barfoot he wente in gray habyte 
He werid no cloth ]?at was of lyne 
pus on Englifch he dide it wryte 



iv Introduction. 



He ieyth he drow it of ])e Latyn 
His mede lord ihu him quyte 
And feynt bernard clerk of deuyn." 

As the Edinburgh MS., however, appears to be much older than 
the Cambridge MS. Ddl. I, and the other MSS. preferved in the 
Englifh libraries, it is probable that the original was compofed anterior 
to the time when Hampole flourifhed. This probability is ftrengthened 
by the circumftance that the various copies now extant differ very much 
in length, and in the order in which the fermons are arranged. It is 
therefore not unlikely that the colleftion was the work of feveral 
monkifti verfifiers ; and this view feems borne out by the flyle of 
the compofition, and the frequency with which poems on facred fub- 
je6ls, in a fimilar kind of verfe, occur in early Englifh literature. 

Although the authorfhip of this interefling CoUeftion of Sermons is 
a matter of uncertainty, ftill there can be little doubt that it was com- 
pofed in the North of England at a very early period, when the Anglo- 
Saxon was being transformed into Englifh, and when the ufe of the 
Anglo-Norman French was not uncommon amongft the educated 
clafTesr of the people. 

As is dated in the Prologue, the defign of the author was to make 
the fervices of religion intelligible to the unlearned : — 

" For al men can noht I wis 
Underftand Latin and Frankis." 

It is well known that for a long time after the Norman Conqueft, 
which introduced Anglo-Norman French as the court language of 
England, the common people continued to fpcak Anglo-Saxon, till, 
about the time of the thirteenth century, the intercourfe between the 
various claffes of fociety becoming more general, an intermixture of the 
two languages began to take place. 

In a philological point of view, the MS. now printed is very remark- 
able. The language in which it is written is of the mofl homely 



Introduction. 



kind. All difficult expreflions, and expofitions liable to be misunder- 
flood, are ftudioufly avoided, while the words employed are nearly all 
derived from the Anglo-Saxon, or rather that modification of it known 
as Dano-Saxon, and comparatively few occur of Anglo-Norman origin. 

In this refpeft thefe fermons, like the poem of " Piers Plowman," 
intended for popular ufe, afford a remarkable contrail to the writings 
of Chaucer, who, being efTentially a Court poet, employed a much 
larger proportion of Anglo-Norman words in his poetry. 

Their greatefl philological value, however, confifls in their fhowing 
that the fame broad dialeft was common at an early period to Scotland 
and the North of England. This dialeft was derived from a colony of 
Saxons, who, coming from Slefw'^^k, in the South of Denmark, in 
A.D. 547, eflablifhed themfelves in Northumberland, and in various 
parts of Scotland between the Tweed and the Forth. 

In this extenfive diftrift, far removed from the influence of the 
Anglo-Norman, which prevailed after the Norman Conquefl amongft 
the inhabitants of the Southern parts of England, this Dano-Saxon or 
Eaft- Anglian dialeft long flourifhed and refilled the propenfity to 
change which more or lefs afFefts all living languages. This dialeft 
was long fuccefsfully cultivated, and in it nearly all the Englifh metrical 
romances of mediaeval times were written ; while, as Sir Walter Scott 
has juflly remarked, the fame flow of romantic and poetical tradition 
has diflinguifhed thefe diflridls almoft down to the prefent time. 

On comparing the language in which thefe Homilies are written, 
with that of the ancient poems known to have been compofed by 
Scottifh authors, both may be confidered as being of one and the fame 
dialeft ; and whilfl the Homilies prefent feveral peculiarities fhowing a 
Northumbrian origin, they tend flill further to prove the Dano-Saxon 
origin of the literary language of Scotland — a fubjedf on which much 
interefling difcuffion has taken place in recent times. 

It can hardly be fuppofed that this colledlion of fermons was written 
with the view of its being ufed as a fervice book of the Church, yet 



vi . Introduction. 

the Rubric inferted after the Latin poem on the " Signa ante Judicium," 
page 27, feems to imply that the Sermons were intended to be read to 
the people. This Latin poem (which is wanting in the other MSS.) is 
ordered to be omitted by the preacher, '' quando legit Anglicum coram 
laycis." ?< The fermons may, however, have been intended to be read to 
the people after the regular fervices of the Church were concluded ; 
and the fnigular tales or " narrations," which indicate the rude fim- 
plicity of the age, feem to have been introduced more efFeftually to fix 
the attention of the audience. It is well known that the mofl celebrated 
popular preachers in mediaeval times fhowed a tendency to excite 
laughter in its turn as well as other emotions. ^^ 

As illuftrative of the familiar flyle of the Sermons contained in the 
prefent volume, and of the fingular " narrations " with which they are 
accompanied, the following outline may be given of the one for the 
third Sunday after the Oftave of Epiphany. 

The lefTon is from St Matthew's Gofpel, viii. 23, being the narrative 
of the miraculous flilling of the tempeft on the Sea of Galilee, which 
is explained and illuflrated as follows : — 

The holy Church is reprefented as a fhip floating upon a fea flowing 
with fin and wickednefs. Chrift is fuppofed to be fpiritually afleep 
when he permits good men to become the prey of the evil-difpofcd. 
The world is compared to a fea wherein — 



and where — 



— '' gret fifches etes the finale," 

— " Riche men of this word etes 
That pouer wit thair trauail getcs, 
For wit pouer men fiircs the king 
Riht als the quale fares wit the elringe." 

The wrongs which the weak fuflTer at the hands of the powerful are 
compared to a ftorm of the iba, in which Chrift is in the fhip afleep. 
The prayers of the fiifFercrs alking affifiance awaken Chrifl:, who grants 



Introduction. vii 

all their reafonable wifties. The fait water of the fea betokens the 
defire of riches ; for, as fait water, when drunk, caufes increafed thirft, 
fo the richer a man becomes the greater defire he has for wealth. As 
water drowns the body, fo v/ealth drowns the foul in a fpiritual fenfe, 
and after it is drowned it becomes the prey of " wattri wormes." This 
is exemplified by the following tale of a Ufurer : — 

A great city on the Continent was under the fpiritual care of a holy 
bifhop called Piers. A knight lived in his neighbourhood who had 
gained great wealth by ufury. Although his defire of wealth was 
great, the knight had ftill fome religious feeling left, and in a penitent 
ftate went to the holy bifhop to get abfolution for his fms. The 
bifhop afked him if he were willing to do the penance he was prepared 
to lay on him. On his anfwering affirmatively, the bifhop, to his fur- 
prife, inflead of a fevere penance, only required of him to grant the 
requefl of a beggar whom he fhould meet on his return homewards. 

The knight fubfequently encountered a beggar, who faluted him and 
folicited his charity. The knight afked him the extent of his demand, 
when the beggar ventured to fpecify a quarter of wheat. This requefl 
was agreed to by the knight, who ordered his fervants to meafure out 
the grain from his flores. The poor beggar, however, had no bag or 
veffel in which he might put this unexpected quantity of grain, and 
requefled the knight to give him fome means of carrying away the 
wheat apparently fo munificently offered to him. The knight, whofe 
ufurious feelings fuddenly returned, propofed to the beggar to leave the 
grain, and in place of it take the fum of five fhillings. The beggar, 
having no other refource, agreed to this propofal, took the money, and 
went his way, while the knight ordered his fervants to put the grain 
back into a chefl. 

Three days afterwards the knight opened this chefl, when, to his 
furprife, inflead of grain — ■ 

" Snakes and nederes thar he fand, 
And gret blac tades gangand. 



viii Introduction. 



n 



And arfkes and other wormes felle 
That I can noht on Inglis telle." 

Thefe ferpents endeavoured to attack the knight, who, in his alarm, 
rufhed to the bifhop and told him what had happened. The bijfhop, 
on hearing the cafe, informed the knight that, in order to fulfil the 
will of God and obtain entrance into heaven, the only way left was to 
take no account of himfelf, but to throw himfelf naked amongft thele 
reptiles. The knight naturally felt fome hefitation in complying with 
this dreadful injunftion ; but the bifhop affured him that his pain would 
be fhort, and that although his flefh would be eaten by the ferpents, 
his foul would pafs into everlafting happinefs. The knight, after re- 
quefting the bifhop to pray for his foul, did as he was commanded, 
and threw himfelf naked amongfl the repfiles, which fpeedily ate him 
up, leaving nothing but his bones. 

Thefe the bifhop, with his clergy, came fhortly afterwards to demand 
from the family of the knight, when he was led to the cheft, threw 
the reptiles into the fire, and drew forth the bones of the wretched 
knight as white as fnow. They were afterwards placed in a fhrine in 
an abbey, where they were regarded as holy relics, and many miracles 
were done by them. 

An account of the happy flate of the foul of this ufurer, thus fnatched 
from the power of Satan by fo fearful a penance, concludes the fingular 
homily. 

The Homily for the next Sunday in Epiphany is illuflrated by the 
following chara(flerif\ic " narration," to which a fide-note in the Cam- 
bridge MS. GgV. 31, fupplies the following title : — 

** ?^oU) t\)t JDtuill became a H^fyj^ition to tempt tl)e fMonltsf." 

A hermit of great fan^tity is reprelented as fitting at the entrance of 
his cell, when he obferves a fiend approach in the difguife of a do6for, 
carrying a number of boxes and bottles of medicine, on his back — 



Introduction. ix 

" And boyiles on himfel he bare 
And ampolies als leche ware." 

The hermit penetrating this difguife of Satan, accofts him, and afks 
whither he is going. The fiend informs him that he is on his way to 
an abbey in the neighbourhood, as too long time had elapled fmce he had 
lafl paid a vifit to the monks. The hermit then afks what he means to do 
with his boxes and medicine bottles, when the fiend informs him that 
his defign is to adminifter as medicine, drugs which fhould caufe the 
recipients to think of fin. Firfl of all he propoles to try them with 
gluttony, next with envy, pride, hatred, and fo on. The hermit re- 
quefts the fiend to call on his return and report his progrefs, and then 
allows him to go on his way. He then prays to God to counteract 
Satan's plans. The fiend makes but little progrefs in his defigns againft 
the monks, and on his return informs the hermit that he had *' fped 
ful ille," that he had made no new converts, and that of all the monks 
only one, called Teocifl, a6led in accordance with his commands. 

This information is not loft upon the hermit. He immediately fets 
out for the abbey, and inquires for Teocift, of the monks who run to 
greet him on his arrival. He is conducted to Teocift's cell, and, after 
mutual falutations, afks him whether he is ever troubled with unholy 
thoughts. Teocifl replies in the negative, as he is unwilling to let the 
truth be known. The hermit afFedfs to believe him, and adds that 
although he himfelf was an old man, he felt great difficulty in keeping 
himfelf from improper defires, and exprefTes his wonder that a brother 
{o young as Teocifi: fhould be wholly free from the irregular inclinations 
incident to youth. 

Teocifl, thrown ofi' his guard by this apparently ingenuous confeffion 
of the hermit, now admits that he had fometimes yielded to the tempta- 
tions of the fiend. The hermit having thus afcertained the truth, 
exhorts his weak brother, and imprefTes upon him the neceffity of firm 
refiftance to the temptations of Satan. Having thus accomplifhed the 



Introduction. 



objecft of his vifit, the hermit returns to his dwelling in the wildernefs, 
and loon after oblerves the fiend again on his way to the abbey. He 
watches for his return, and then ironically afks what fuccefs had 
attended his fecond vifit. The fiend anfwers in great wrath, and 
laments the time he has loft in his vifits, for in no way can he get 
the better of any of the monks — 

" For likes nan of tham my play 
Bot alle thar kache me away." 

And he now finds even Teocift withdrawn from his influence, and 
turned into his ftrongeft opponent. The tale ends by the hermit 
praifing God for defeating the defigns of the fiend, who is fo much 
chagrined at his want of fuccefs that he vows never to repeat his vifits 
to fo holy an eftablifiiment. 

The Homilies, from the Purification, where this volume ends, to the 
twenty-third or twenty-fourth Sunday after Trinity, the ufual limit of 
the MSS., are alfo illu ft rated by feveral interefting tales ; and it is to be 
hoped that the remaining portion of this ancient Colle6lion of lermons 
may at fome future period be publiftied from the Englifh Manufcripts. 

In concluilon, the Editor of the preient volume has to exprefs his 
obligations to the following gentlemen, who have afforded many valu- 
able fuggeftions and corre(5fions when the iheets were pafling through 
the prcfs : — David Laing, Efq., Librarian to the Society of Writers to 
the Signet -, the Rev. Mr Power, Librarian to the Univerfity of Cam- 
bridge ; James Richardson, Efq., Advocate -, and Mr James Gor- 
don, whole ikill in deciphering ancient MSS. has been of the greateft: 
ibrvice on the prefcnt occafion. 



Kdinul U(iii, 6/// Mdicli ih(6; 



DESCRIPTION OF TPIE EDINBURGH MANUSCRIPT. 

This ancient volume was bequeathed to the library of the Royal 
College of Phyficians, in 174T, by Dr John Drummond, one of the 
Fellows, who filled the Prefident's chair of the College between the 
years 1722 and 1726. The volume may be defcribed as follows : — 

A thin quarto, on vellum of fifty leaves, clofely written in double 
columns, each of about forty-five lines. It contains the fragments of 
three different books, the handwriting 01 each being different, but 
attributable to the later part of the thirteenth, or the early part of the 
fourteenth century. The firfl and third parts of the volume contain 
various poems which are alfo to be found in the' MS. known as the 
*' Curfor Mundi," copies of which are preferved in the Britifh Mufeum 
and other libraries. 

Thefe poems may be thus defcribed : — 

§ I. A poem on the " Signa ante Judicium," or the fifteen figns, 
which, in the belief of ancient times, were liippofed to precede the day 
of judgment, and which are verfified from fome treatife afcribed to St 
Jerome, but not to be found in the printed editions of his works. This 
poem begins fol. la: — 

" Ik vnderftand al in mi thoht. 
That es na man fa wis that may 
Tel quen fal be the laft day, 
Bot he that al hauls for to yeme, 
Al es in his wil for to deme 
That laft day that al fal end. 
He gif us lauerd wit him to lend." 

Two verfions of thefe fifteen figns will be found at pp. 25-28 of the 
prefent volume, one in Englifh, and another in Latin, both of which. 



xii DESCRIPTION OF THE MS. 

though fhorter, are of the fame nature as the one now defcribed. The 
eleventh fign is fo curious, that it is here extrafted ": — 

XI. " The fignes of the dai elleft. 

It nes na fcil that it be left, 

Sar thai fal do for to grife, 

Wind on ik a fid fal rife 

Sa fall gain other lal tai blaw, 

That es na thing that it may f("ha\\' 

The erthe fal tai do to rift, 

And up out of the lied to lift. 

The deueles out fal be fordreuin, 

Of tliat erthe that fal be renin ; 

Ber thair bodis in that air, 

That liht it fal be ful unfair, 
; Than fal the raynbow decend 

In hew of gall it fal be kend, 

And wit the windes it fal mel, 
j Drif them doun in to the hel. 

And dunt the deueles thider in, 

In thair bal al for to brin, 
I And fal taim bidd to hald thaim thar 

; Abon erthe to come no mar. 

' The term es comen, haf ye lal 

The incom to be in your bal, 
j Than fal tai bigin to cri and calle, 

Lauerd fader ! God of all." 

This verfion of the "Signa" ends, fol. 2 b, with the following note 
— *' Hie vocantur omnes ad Judicium." 

§ 2. A poem on the events which are to happen on the day of 
judgment, defcribing the manner in which the bodies of dead creatures 
fhall appear before the Judge of all. It begins fol. 2 b: — 

"Than fal be herd the blafl of hem, 
The demfier fal com to dem, 
That al thing of liandes awe, 
In (juatkin forme I fal you fr[a]\ve. 
We trow, and al aw for to trow, 
I Bot it be Sare/in or low, 



DESCRIPTION OF THE MS. xiii 



That efter his relurreccioun, 
The hei dai of tli[e] affencioun. 
Com Ihu til his frendes fwete. 
That let war to thair met at ette." 

The author* then Ihows that although the body may have been utterly 
deftroyed in this world, it fhall appear on the day of the refurreftion 
in a flate funilar to that in which it exifled before death ; and in illus- 
tration of his ftatement, he gives the following characSleriftic *' Exem- 
plum," fol. 3 b, coL 2 : — 

" A faumpil lal I fchaw thnr bie 

That I fand of Saint Gregorie, 

Thar he was in a fted fum quar, 

A crafti clerk, and wis of lar. 

And alkid him an queftioun. 

Of an wolf, and a liun. 

And of the thrid tliat was a man, 

Quar of the tal he thus bigan : 

A man welk thoru a wod his wai, 

Thar ner the llrete a wolf him lay ; 

This wolfe it was wnmilur of met, 

Al this mannis fles he ete ; 

Alle fwidie he fwa hauid don, 

A hungir lion mett he fon, 
[Fol. 4 a, col. I.] Vp and doun his prai fecand, 

Quen he na nother beft ne fand. 

This wolf he felled, and ett€ him alle, 

Ne left he nather gret ne fmalle. 

The lion efter deyed in hii, 

Dede thar gan his caroin lie. 

And thar was rotin al to noht. 

Quar fal now this man be foht. 

For ne mai trow on nankin wis. 

That this man mai to lif up ris. 

Sin nan es, als i wen, that kan 

Tuine that erthe that com of man, 

Fra erthe that is bred of belt. 

Saint Gregor gaf anfwer honelt. 

And of that man that was in were. 

The fothe he fchawdd him al cler. 



XIV DESCRIPTION OF THE MS. 



And proiiid him wit quik reliin, 

That at this rellirrecciun, 

Wit al his hms hal and fere, 

Sal com bifor the demefter. 

For thou his bodi war al brint, 

And blawen al the ponder tint, 
I Yet mai God gader it al agayn 

I And newin it at his wille again.' * 

I This poem ends fol. lo a, col. 2 : — 

! "■ Al that this bok, or heris, or redis, 

, Leuedi, tliaim help in al thair nedis. Amen." 

§ 3. A poem on the Lamentation of the Virgin — a common fubje(fl: 

of early Englifh poetry. It begins fol. 10 a, col. 2 : — 

" Spel yet 1 wald, fpek if I cuthe. 
War ani mirthis in mi muthe. 

For mikel haf to mot ; 
Bot that in hertis wo hord es reft, 
Nedwais ut bihouis it breft. 

Of bal to brew fum bot. 
Sco that es bet of all bale. 
Of hir trewlik es al mi tale, 

Hir murning for to minne. 
For that foru tha[t] fco feye, 
Hit fwet fon on rod dreye. 

All thorn his anen kine." 

This poem ends fol. 14 a, col. 2 : — 

"In C rift is worlip for to fuink, 
And cuer opon his thraues think, 

That fua did you to murne. 
Prai tliat lefdi ben ur lend. 
That we mai find hir fon frend. 

To tore quen we sal turne. Amen." 

§ 4. A poem, which is a metrical verfion of the " Miraculum do 
Conccptione Beata; Mariic," as inlbrtcd by Gabriel Gcrberon in the 
IkMietli^line edition of the works of St Anlblm.' This legend, the 

' Opera; studio D. Gabrielis Gerberon, p. 507. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE MS. xv 

authorfhip of which is generally attributed to St Anfelm, is fuppofed, 
from internal evidence, to be fpurious, and is contrary to the views of 
Anfelm himfelf, as enunciated in other pafTages of his works known to 
be genuine. This poetical verfion is, however, a bold and vigorous 
piece of compofition, and pofTefles fome points of hiftorical interefl. 
It defcribes the embaffy of Helis, or Elfmus, an abbot of Ramfay, who 
is reprefented as having been fent by William the Conqueror to Den- 
mark, fhortly after the battle of Haftings. The objeft of his miiTion 
was to appeafe Suein, king of Denmark, who had made preparations 
for a defcent upon England to revenge the death of his nephew 
king Harold. 

A verfion of this poem has been printed by Sir Henry Ellis in 
his introduftion to " Domefday Book,"» from the Cottonian MS., 
Vefp. A. III. 

The poem begins in the Edinburgh MS. fol. 14 a, col. 2, and ends 
fol. 15 b, col. 2 : — 

" Lillnis mi god men wit yor lef, 
Wei lathe me war you for to gref, 
That you mi talking thoht to toh. 
For me think nemar enoh. 
That 1 mai of liir louing red. 
That bet us al ut of ur ned. 
Al mi lif unto min end, 
Thoh I moht in hir louing fpend, 
Al that I cutlie, or think, or fai. 
It war noht half an our of dai. 
And this tar na man nik wit nai, 
Sa brad of hir blis es the wai, 
Thoh mannis wit be neuer fa llraite, 
Sco mai wel bring it into nait. 
For thoh mi wit war neuer fa wild, 
Quen I ma mining of that mild, 
Quat blis fco bred ogain ur bale, 
That I n[e] fal find willing of wale, 

I Vol. i. p. 99. 



xvi DESCRIPTION OF THE MS. 



That gifes me luft of hir to rede. 
For he is alfped that fco "uil fpede. 
Tald es in this bok biforn, 
Hu tliat fcho was getin and born, 
Bot mi lauerdinges, if ye bid, 
Quat tim and term tliat it bitid. 
That fcho was getin, that bird of bhs, 
I fal mon wit out in mis. 
The fell of hir conceptioun, 
[Fol. 14 b, Thar of ye fal her the refun 
''''^- '-J Qui that hah kirk and hu, 

Bi yer tharof dos feruis nu. 
That it did noht in aid dais, 
Herkens hu the llori fais. 

A king was hiht William Ballard, 
That werraid Ingeland ful hard, 
Sa llalword man he was of hand. 
That wit his force he wan tlie land ; 
Selcuthe kenli cuthe he liht, 
He floh the king that Harald hiht, 
That born was of the Danis blod, 
For (jui the land he him witllod, 
Than bar Willam the sengnorie 
Of Ingeland and Normundie. 
The King of Danemarche onan, 
Herd that Harald king was llan ; 
Of witte almall ut wald he wend, 
For luf [to] him that was his trend. 
Schippis did he diht him yar, 
Intil Ingeland to far, 
Apon the Normanz for to liht, 
That wan the land wit outin riht ; 
For he fuar bi the king ol heuin 
That Harald llahtir fuld he heuin. 
To king William bodword was broht 
Of this tithing that him for thoht ; 
I [e fchonid far tha[t] wer I'uld ris, 
And warnill him on mani wis. 
He gadert I'audcrs her and tar. 
To llrcnth his callcls he[r] and tar, 
A Is he that con(]uerur was god. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE MS. xvii 



And for to werrai underftod. 
His confail bad him for to fand 
The king of Danmark wit fand, 
For to fpek about fum pais 
Bituixin him and tha Danais. 

This ilke tim that ike of fai, 
Was an Abbot in Ramifay, 
The nam of him men cald Ehs, 
[Col. 2.] SelcutheU hend he was and wis. 

And wel a gret refun fchaw he cuthe. 
Wit outen ani mer in muthe. 
This Abbot of this erand ber 
Was c[h]olin to be metfager. 
Unto Danmark to fare, 
Als man was led wit mikel lar 
Wit trefori his fchip was diht 
Of prefand mani riche gift. 
Of liluir and golde to giftes bede. 
Mar than es mifter for to rede. 
The finge of pes alfwa to bring, 
Tuix Wilham and that other king ; 
And of tha fcippis for to Ijpir, 
Quen that tai ah til for to ftir, 
Helis to fcipping he him did ; 
The bir it blew als he wald bid ; 
He pall that fe tliat was wel brad ; 
His prefand to the king he mad ; 
His prefand was welcum, and he 
Als bringand wont es for to be : 
Til erlis and baruns of that rick 
Than gaf he fer kin giftis rik : 
Tha that he hauid na giftis til. 
Wit fpeche he hauid al thair wil ; 
Sa wel in fpeche than cuthe he fpel. 
That al that oft he did to duel. 
Quen his nedis war al done. 
Thai diht him his fchipping fone ; 
Thair fail thai fet up of thair fchippe ; 
Sir Helis and his felaufchippe. 
His giftes gaf he noht in vaine, 
Bot faire prefandis [thai] fent ogaine. 



xviii DESCRIPTION OF THE MS. 



Forthe tliai flotin on that flod, 
For al to wil thair bir thaim ftod, 
That at tlie laft moht thai noht fe 
Bot heuin abute tliaim and tlie le ; 
The weder als in fomer fmethe. 
Son bigan be rug and rethe. 
That ilke waw til otlier it weft, 
[Fol. 15 a, And bremU to tha bargis beft. 
col. I.] The hft it blakind al to niht. 

On ilka fid than flakid tliair fiht, 

The fe for rethnes wex al red. 

To rewthe was turnid al thair red. 

The wind ras gainis taim unride, 

The fe thaim failid on ilka fide, 

Thaim blew on mani bremli blall, 

Quen maft it raf, and cordis brail ; 

Strangli firaite tlian war tliai ftad, 

The marineres war felcuthe rad. 

Sua rad ne war thai neuer ar. 

For thaim war neuer in perlir ar, 

Ful wantfum war thai than of red, 

Bot drerili thai dred tliair ded. 

Quen thai hauid ftriuen ai quil thai moht, 

Again that fiorm al was for noht. 

Thai let it wander vp and dun, 

Thair fchip ai redi for to drunn ; 

Thai wander waful on that flod. 

Cried and wep als tai war wod. 

Thai fari lokid ai fua forfwonkin, 

Quen fchip fuld cjuilum be or funkin. 

On Jhefu Crifi thai cri and cal. 

And on Mari that hclpis al. 

Leucdi, thai fai, that es fa mild, 

Prai for us to thi fiict child, 

iW mon we drucn fa, wailewai, 

Leucdi nu lulj), for wcl thu mai. 

Thai wrang thair hcnd and wep ful far, 

Als men war carkid al wit car; 

Apon tliair brcllcs fall tiiai i)ctt, 

And a! in God thaimlclf bilcft. 

But fco that euer is bot of bale, 



DESCRIPTION OF THE MS. 



XIX 



Til al that hop in hir hauis hal, 
Hir focur fon to thaim fco fent. 
That in lilk murning on hir ment. 
Dun bi that fchip an angel liht, 
In felcuthe clething fchen of liht : 
This angel to tha quakand kid, 
[Col. 2.] And thus to thaim his erand did. 
Helis, he faid, lift up thi cher, 
Cum fpec ner wit this meflager. 
Al tha that in that farcoft ferd 
Ware med quen thai him fau and herd. 
The angel thus he tald his talle, 
Helis, he faid, if [thou] wil halle, 
Cum of this fchip to land and fer, 
Thu fal nu hiht and vow me her, 
That tu fal don als I the fai. 
Til alle the kirkes that tu mai, 
Quen thu comis intil Ingeland, 
For to do thaim at underfland 
For to haluin this ilke dai. 
Wit al the worfip that thai mai. 
In hali kirk ringand bi yer, 
Als getin was ur leaedi der. 
For getin bituix man and womman 
Was fco, that wem hauid neuer nan ; 
Getin was fco to be born. 
For to lethe al tliat war forlorn. 
This es the dai that fco was getin, 
Lok neuer mar it be forgetin, 
Qu halus it wit outen fail. 
Bathe lif and fawel it fal taim wail. 
Do vou, Elis, and hald tlii vow. 
It fal te turn til mikel pru. 
To that angel than fpak Hellie, 
Sai me figne, he faid, quarbie 
Ik and al mi monkes mai. 
And al criilen men halu that dai. 
To knaw, he faid, it war ful ethe. 
The ahtand dai of a monethe 
That man clepis in the yer, 
December in the calender ; 



col. I 



XX DESCRIPTION OF THE MS. 



That es the dai that Ik of men, 
Quen gethi was tliat Leiied Ibhen. 
Sai me, laid Hehs, quatkin wis 
Of hir that we fal mak feruis. 
Sin thar es proper nan I knaw. 
[Fol. 15 b, Gladh, lir, I fal you fchaw ; 

The feruis of her birthe thu tak, 
Thar of thu fal thi feruis mak . 
Of a word that thar in es red 
To fette another word in fi:ed , 
Ai quar ye fai Natiuite, 
This word Conceptioun fai ye ; 
For change thar es nan mar 
Of al the feruis that es tar. 

Of this borword blithe was Helli, 
And thankid Crift and ur Leuedi 3 
Gladlik he hiht, and wit god wille 
That comandment al for to fille. 
Quen the abbot hauid his vow mad. 
Out of thar fiht the angel glad ; 
Als fuithe na langer duell. 
The lem gan liht, the llorm it fell 
Ful fair it com that fe to fiht ; 
And thai bigan thair takil diht. 
Thair wil to wind fair thai fand, 
Til thai com intil Ingeland ; 
Wit al thair farnet and thair fer, 
Thai com to land bathe hale and fer. 

Helis bigan this comandment 
Son for to fchaw til his couent. 
Al til is chance that him bitid, 
Al comunlik he it undid, 
To worfip hir conception. 
That of ur pliht us gat pardon. 
This fell fra than the folk forthe held. 
Thar of ilkan til other teld. 
This ilke abbot at Ramfai, 
Afctnes fet in his abbai, 
1'har in this feruis for to ftand, 
Ai (juilis that abbai be lafiand ; 
And fua man dos in lledis fcl. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE MS. xxi 

Sa ah al do that es hir lei. 
This ftori thar wit for to fai, 
Euer quen wil hald this dai. 
Mai na man feruin hir in lede, 
[Col. '/.] That fco ne than yeldis thaim thair med : 
Sco don us her to ferue hir lua, 
That we be wit hir euer and a. 
Amen." 

§ 5. The metrical fermons now printed, extending from fol. 16 to 
fol. 36, form the fecond part of the volume. 

§ 6. Various metrical fragments of narrations of events in the lives 
of the Apoftles, and the Virgin Mary, diflinguifhed by many philologi- 
cal peculiarities, form the third and concluding part of the MS. 

They begin on fol. 37 a, col. I : — 

'* In heuin on heie than fale I fcawe. 
And lignis dune on erthe lawe ; 
He tald thaim mani takins fere. 
That es na nede alle rekin here. 
Mi brethir, he faide, ful wel mai I 
Of the prophete giu telle Daui, 
He wifte that Gode til him hauid fuorn, 
That ane fuld of his fede be borne, 
To lite in fetlis that was his ; 
Bot he tliat faj on ferrum this. 
Of his uprife he faide, in helle 
Na fuld nojt Crift be lefte to duel, 
Na neuer of rote his fleis haue fi^te 5 
Bot railid es ha with llrenth of drijte ; 
Fra dede to hue nu rifin es he, 
And thar of witnes al ar we." 

The following lines occur at fol. 43 b, col. 2, which are particularly 
valuable, as fhowing that the language of the North of England was, at | 
the time when they were written, almoft unintelligible to the inhabitants 
of the Southern part of the kingdom : — 

" Womman fal perile of na barne, 
Na nan wit millim he for fame, 



'^'xii DESCRIPTION OF THE MS. 



Na fal unto na dedlie plijte, 
That tai it here outher day or ni^te^ 
And mare thar of I fai ye giete, 
Qu hertUc heris or redis itte. 
Of ure Leuedi and Saint Johan 
Thair benicun thaim bes nojte wan ; 
And Saint Edmund of Puntenei, 
Daiis of perdun thaim giuis xx": 
In a writte this ilke I tande. 
Him felue it wrojte Ic underftande : 
In other IngHs was it drawin. 
And turnid Ic haue it til ur awin 
Language of the Northin lede. 
That can na nother IngHs rede." 



The MS. ends abruptly, fol. 50 b, col. 2 : 

" Bote we finde in Daniel 
Fourti daiis he fal taim grate, 
That fallin arne oute of thair . . . 
Thurj foluinge of that fals prophete 
That thai mai thaim penance . . . 
Quen that penance til ende es . . . 




Prologue. 




ADER and fun and haligaft, 
That anfald God es ay fledfafl, 
Worthi driht in trinite, 
A God a miht in perfons iii, 
With out en end and biginning, 
Rihtwis Lauerd and mihti king, 
That mad of riht noht alle thing, 
And geres the erthe froit forth bring, 
Wit out en the nan froit mai fpring. 
For al es loken in thi welding. 
Thou ert Lauerd that worthi drihte, 
That al ophaldes wiht thi mihte, 
Thou that al craftes kanne, 
Of erth and lam thou made manne, 
And gaf him gafl: of fchilwifnes 
That thou mad efter thi liknes, 



Prolog 



us. 



Thou lilde this gaile fa full of witte, 
Sa quaynt and crafti mad thou itte, 
That al beftes er red for man, 
Sa mani wyle and wrenk he can. 
Forth! fuld man in thi feruis 
Defpend his witte and his quaintis, 
For thu gaf man ikil and infiht, 
And heuenis blis thou hauis him hiht, 
To kouenand that he feme the riht, 
And fe and knau thi mikel miht, 
On the bird be his mail thouht, 
That fes quat thou for him has wroht^ 
And fra quat bale thou him broht, 
Quen thou fra helle on rode him boht. 
An unkind man es he, 
That turnes alle his thoht fra the, 
And wel bird ever ilk man, 
Lof God after that he kan, 
Lered men wit rihtwis lare, 
And laued folk wit rihtwis fare, 
Preftes wit matines and wit meife, 
And laued men wiht rihtwifnes. 
Clerk wit lar of Codes worde, 
For he haues in him Codes horde 
Of wifdom and of gaftlic larc. 
That he ne an noht for to fpare, 



Prologus. 



Bot fcheu it forthe til laued menne, 

And thaim the wai til heuin kenne. 

For [all than] fal we yeld acount, 

(^at that wifdom mai amount, 

That God hauis giuen us for to fpend, 

In god oys til our Hues end. 

Forthi fuld ilke precheour fchau, 

The god that Godd hauis gert him knau, 

For qua fa hides Godes gift, 

God mai chalange him of thift. 

In al thing es he nouht lele. 

That Godes gift fra man wil fele, 

Forthi the litel that I kanne, 

Wil I fchau til ilke manne, 

Yf I kan mar god than he, 

For than lif Ic in charite. 

For Godes wifdom that es kid, 

And na thing worthe quen it is hid, 

Forthi wil I of my pouert, 

Schau fum thing that Ik haf in hert. 

On Ingelis tong that alle may 

Underfland quat I wil fay, 

For laued men hauis mar miller, 

Godes word for to her. 

Than klerkes that thair mirour lokes. 

And fees hou thai fal lif on bokes, 



Prologus. 



And bathe klerk and laued man, 
Englis underfland kan, 
That was born in Ingeland, 
And lang haues ben thar in wonand, 
Bot al men can noht, I wis, 
Underfland Latin and Frankis, 
Forthi me think ahnous it ifle, 
To wirke fum god thing on Inglifle, 
That mai ken lered and laued bathe, 
Hou thai mai yem thaim fra fchathe, 
And flithe ftand igain the fend, 
And til the blis of heuen wend. 
Mi fpeche haf I mint to drawe. 
Of Crifles dedes and his fau, 
On him mai I befl found mi werke, 
And of his dedes tac mi merke, 
That maked al this werd of noht, 
And der mankind on rode boht. 
The faur godfpellers us fchawes, 
Crifles dedes and his fawes, 
Al faur a talle thay telle, 
Bot feer faues er in thair fpelle, 
And of thair fpel in kirk at mefTe, 
Er lefzouns red bathe miu- and lefTe, 
For at euer ilke mefTe we rede 
Of Crifles wordes and his dedc. 



Prolog 



us. 



Forthi tha godfpells that always 
Er red in kirc on fundays, 
Opon Inglis wil Ic undo, 
Yef God wil gif me grace tharto, 
For namlic on the funnenday, 
Comes lawed men thair bede to fay 
To the kirc, an for to lere 
Gafllic lare that thar thai here, 
For als gret mifler haf thay. 
To wit quat the godfpel wil fay 
Als lered men, for bathe er bouht 
Wit Grilles blod, and fal be broht 
Til heuenis blis ful menlkelie, 
Yef thai lef her rihtwiflie. 
For wil Ic on Inglis fchau. 
And ger our laued brether knawe, 
Quat alle tha godfpelles faies. 
That falles tille the funnendayes. 
That thai mai her and hald in hert 
Thinge that thaim til God mai ert, 
And forthi at our biginninge. 
Pray we God of heuin kinge. 
That he help us for to bringe 
This ilk werk to god endinge, 
And gif me grace fua make 
This werk for laued mannes fake. 



Prologus. 



That I mai haf for my mede, 

Heuenrik blis quen I am dede, 

And our werk be worfchipe 

To God, and to the fend fcendfchipe 

And joy til halwe and till angel, 

And creflen folk til fauel hel, 

That it be fua fays inwardlye, 

Pater nofter Ave Marie . Pat. nr. et cet. 





Explicit prologttB . Uncipit ratio tinaxe pxe^tn^ opu^ in 
tipiut tsominicum pvimattt ^trb^ntus J9omtnt\ 




R the fulthe of tim was comen, 
Satenas al folk aued nomen, 
For mankind in prifoun he held, 
Wiht outen help wit outen belde, 
Ai til God in trinite 
Of mankind hafd fa gret pite, 
That he fend his fon for to take 
Fleys and blod for mannes fake, 
For wit outen fleis and blode, 
Moht Grift noht by apon the rode 
Mankind, that in fleis and felle, 
Was demed to the pin of helle, 
Forthi hafd God of man mercye. 
That was bigiled thoru envie 
Of Satenas that wiht lefmge 
Gabbid Adam and his offpringe, 



Dom. i. Advent. Do7nini. 



And gert mankind ga tille helle, 
Thar he fuld euer mar duelle, 
Yef it ne hauid ben Godd almihti, 
That fend his fon thoru his merci, 
To yeld for mankind raunceoun, 
And leffe us al of prifoun, 
Goddes fun and Goddes fande, 
Com to les mankind of bande, 
And was bom of mayden Marye, 
Mankind on rode for to bie, 
And forthi Crifl com us to, 
Our aller nedes for to do, 
A monethe bifor his birthe, 
Hali kirk wit menlke and mirht, 
Welcomes him euer ilke a yer, 
And thankes God on fair maner, 
For Crifles com and Goddes fande, 
That lefed us of the fendes bande, 
And forthi at that bliifful tyme, 
Quen hali kirk welcumes hime, 
Wil I bigin to mak my fpelle, 
And of his com fum thing telle, 
For Crifles to com mad cndinge, 
Of al our foru and our murning. 



Dom. i. Advent. Domini, 



littttt efttstrew liominice secuntrum fHatcum. 

Wcium ([Buangclii S^fjeiSu Cri^ti filii lid, ^icut i^cnptum e^t 
ttt ©5a»a 3^rop!jfta. ^cce mttto angclum meum ante faci'em 
tuam qui pvepatabtt iitam tuam ante te . 2Fov clamantii^ in 
Uti^erto pavate in'am Jiomim, rectal iSemitag factte cjug. dTutt 
SJol^anneg m tie^erto . et cttera. 

Sayn Mark byginnes his godfpel 

Wit wordes that I wil you tel, 
And tas witnes of Yfaye, 
That fpekes of Crifl in prophecye. 
This Yfaye than fpekes ful euen, 
In the fader nam of heuin, 
Til Crifl of fayn Johan the Baptifte, 
That bodword broht of him that Crifl ; 
I fend, he fays, my meffager 
Bifor thi face thi word to ber, 
That fal graithe bifor the the way, 
Wit word that he of the wil fay. 
Thir wordes fays God almihty, 
Thorn the prophet Malachye, 
And als than fpekis Yfaie, 
Of fayn Jon fal openlye. 



lo Dom. i. Advent. Domini. 



Thai fcheu bathe an wit fere letter, 
Forthi bers us trow thaim the better. 
Thai tald how %n Jon the Baptift 
Suld graithe the gates bifor Crifte, 
For fayn Jon was in wildemes, 
And baptized folk in forgifnes 
Of fm, and kend thaim the way 
Tilward that blis that lafles ay, 
For mikel folk of a contre 
That our godfpelles kalles Jude, 
And of Jerufalemes cite, 
Com of fain Jon baptized to be, 
Thai fchraf thaim of thair fmes clen. 
And fayn Jon baptized thaim biden. 
In flrang penance his lif he ledde. 
Wit camel hare was he cledde, 
Wod hony and froit he ete, 
And taht the folk thair fme to bete, 
And faid a ftither gom than I, 
Efter me fal com in hy, 
That es fa menfcful and mihty, 
That I me felf es noht worthi 
To les the thuanges of his fchon, 
Sa mikel god thoru him bes don ; 
For I in water baptiz you, 
Bot apon him aw ye to trow, 



Dom. i. Advent, Domini. 



II 



For he fal wit the haligafte 
Baptiz you and your fmnes wafte. 
This es the flrenthe of our godfpel, 
That man wit Englis tung mai telle. 
In this godfpel als think me, 
Tua thinges mai we gaflli fe. 
The firfl es worfip and louing 
Of Jhefu Grilles to coming, 
For it falles to a mihty king, 
That meffager word of him bring. 
Ar he com til his biging, 
Als fain Jon broht of Crifl tithing ; 
Of quaim Yfay the prophet 
Bers witnes wit wordes fuet, 
And fain Mark fettes his witnes, 
In our godfpel als wel worthe es. 
The tother thinge that we may fe, 
In our godfpel als think me. 
Than es the gret derworthines 
Of precheours that bers witnes 
Of his to com and mas it couthe. 
Wit word that comes of thair mouthe, 
For thai er Criftes meffagers. 
Til al that thair fermoun heres. 
Thay telle the folk on quat maner, 
That mankind was to Godd fa der, 



Do7n, /. Advent, Domini. 



That he fend his fon us to. 

Our aller nedes for to do. 

That was our Lauerd Crift Jefus, 

That was fend to dey for us, 

Forthi bird we in his cuming, 

Welcum him als worthi king, 

For in hali bok find we, 

Of Criftes to cuminge [poyntys] thre. 

The firfl was quen he com to tak 

Fleis and blod for mannes fak, 

He lyhted doun ful mekeli 

Into the maiden wamb of Maiy, 

And fchop him bodi of hir fleyfe, 

And dubbed him wit our liknes, 

And welk in werld als fmful man, 

Bot finles was he al an ; 

Wit our licnes bigiled he 

The fend that his manhed moht fe. 

But pride made the fend fa blind. 

That his godhed moht he noht find. 

He wend that Crifl: war noht bot man. 

And thoru his godhed was he tan. 

Crifles godhed the fend tok, 

Als fifce es tan wit bait and hoc ; 

For his godhed in fleis was felid 

Als hok in bait, quare thoru he telid 



Dom. /. Advent. Domini. 



The fend, that telid our fadir Adam, 

And broht mankind in mikel blam ; 

Hauid Satenas wifl: witerlye 

That Crifle hauid ben Godd ahnihtye, 

For al this werld hauid he noht gert, 

The Jowes fling him to the hert, 

Bot for he fau him noht bot man, 

Godhed in him wend he war nan, 

Forthi he fanded ithenlye. 

To harl him in til his balye. 

He wend wel wit him to fare, 

Als he hauid don with other are. 

For quen Grid fuelt apon the tre. 

His fawel gern fpied he, 

Yef he moht fe or find thar inne, 

Any filth or fpotte of fmne, 

And for he fand thar in riht nan, 

Als fifce wit hok was he tan. 

The fendes miht that was ful flithe. 

That he was won bifor to kithe, 

Was alle taken in Grilles hand. 

That him in hel fa harde band. 

That neuer mar fal he wend 

Out of hel, bot ay thar lend. 

And Grifl reft him than mani man, 

That he fra Grifl bifor had tan. 



14 Dom. i. Advent, Domini. 

For fon, quen Crift on rod was flain, 
He herid hel als mihti thain, 
And broht thaim al that war his, 
Mihtfullik in till his blis, 
His godhed and his fauel famen, 
Broht thaim al fra pin to gamen, 
Thus com ur Lauerd Crifl us to 
To bring us al fra, til reft and ro ; 
Forthi beres man that efe mad hale, 
And blisfully bette of his bale, 
Welcom Crift that com to bring 
Us til his blis als mihti king. 

Nou fe ye qui and for quas fake, 
Crift com til us our kind to take. 
His firft com was bodilye, 
Bot an other eft gaftilye. 
That es quen Crift gifes us wille, 
His comandmenz to fulfille. 
For fon, quen we haf wil to do 
Al that the precheour fays us to, 
And feles our hert in charite, 
For fothe ful hker mai we be. 
That Crift es comen in til our hertes 
Ciaftli that us til godnes ertes, 
Of us felf haf we noht bot fm, 
Bot quen Crift wirkes us wit in, 



Dom. /. Advent. Domini. i$ 

Than at the firft biginne we, 
God creften men for to be, 
That mai ye fe aperteli, 
Wit mani enfampel witerly, 
Namly bi Mari Maudelayn, 
That lang hauid in fin lain, 
Quen Crifl: com gaftly til hir hert, 
Ris of her fmne fon he hir gert. 
For fon, quen fcho hauid hir tanne 
To Crift, fcho wex a god womman, 
Of hir wil Ik aperteli telle, 
Yef ye will lift and lithe mi fpel. 

Werldes welthe gert Marie wede, 

Quil fcho was yong in hir fairhede. 
Scho gaf hir hert til fmful play, 
And keft hir maidenhed away. 
For rifli gers werldes win 
Thir fair wimmen fal in fm, 
Scho lived hir lif in licherye, 
Ai til Crift haued of hir mercie. 
He com til her gaftilye, 
And gert hir leue al hir folie, 
Scho umthot hir quat fcho hauid tint, 
And igain fm gan fcho ftint, 
Hir rewed of hir felf ful fare, 
And hauid for hir fm llik kare 



i6 Dom. i. Advent. Domini. 

That nan that hers fpek of Marie, 

Thar haf wanhop of Godes mercie, 

For do man neuer fa mikel fin, 

And he wil his fm blin, 

Godd of heuin es ai redi, 

For to haf of him mercie, 

That was fen in the Maudelayn, 

That bird mak fmful man ful fain. 

Sain Louk the god godfpeller, 

Telles us on quat maner, 

That this ilc fmful Marye, 

Gat forgifnes and mercie. 

He fais that in that ilk toun, 

Woned a man that hiht Symoun, 

Thar Mary woned that tim that fcho 

Hafd will penanz for to do, 

This ilk Simonde was a mefel, 

Bot Crifl: hafd gifen him his hel. 

He hafd inoh quar of to lif. 

And almous to the pouer to gif. 

Fell auntour that he prayd Crifl: 

To eet wit him at his biwifl, 

And Crifl: that feknes fra him kefl^, 

Com and eet wit him als gell. 

And fon, quen Mari herd telle, 

That Crifl fuld to the meet thar duelle. 



Dom. /. Advent. Domini. 



Scho com thar Crifl him feluen fette, 
And fua far than gun fcho grede, 
That wit teres fcho wes his fete, 
That fcho of hir eyen lete, 
Scho wiped his feet wit her hare, 
And kiffed thaim wit fuetli fuare, 
And blotned thaim wit fmerfles fuete, 
That al feled fuetnes that thar fete, 
Scho hauid boht this ointment, 
To fmer hir auen bodi gent, 
To male fuet fmelland hir bodye, 
(^il fcho haunted hir folye. 

This Symond, of quaym I fpak are, 
Biheld this womman lufli fare. 
And thoht that yef CrifL war prophet. 
Him bird wit qua handeles his fet, 
Als qua fay, him bird wit that fcho 
War noht worthi this dede to do. 
For fin mas hir unworthi, 
To nehe him that fud be hali. 
And als Symond thoht this, 
Criil will quat he [thoht] I wis. 
And faid, Symond tak yem to me, 
Ik haf fum thing to fpek wit the, 
Simond anfuered and faid him tille, 
Sai on maifler, quat es thi wille. 



i8 Do7?i, i, Adve7tt, Domtni. 



And Crifl fette him enfampel than, 
And faid it was a riche man, 
This riche man hauid dettours fele, 
And fum war fals and fum war lele, 
A man haht him fifty penis, 
Another an honderet or the prise, 
And nauther hauid penis for to yeld, 
And he kid [thaim] curtayfi and held, 
And forgaf thaim thair dette bathe, 
Wit outen ftez wit outen fchathe, 
Quether of thir tua lufd him mar, 
And Symond anfuerd Crifl fui yar. 
And faid, he quaym he mar forgafe, 
Wit riht mar lufe fudd til him hafe ; 
And Crift faid, you hauid demid riht. 
For thus fars dette of fmful pHht ; 
I com hider in als uncouthe man. 
Water to min fet bedd thou nan, 
And this womman hauis wafced mi fet. 
Wit fait teres that fcho gret, 
And her heuid hauis fcho mad al bare, 
And wiped min fet wit hir hare ; 
You kiffed me noht fm I com ine. 
To kis min fet can fcho noht blin ; 
Forthi es hir forgiuen hir fin. 
For mikel luf that fcho kidd her in. 



Dom. i. Advent. Domini. 19 

The les that man luues me, 

The les fm mai him forgiuen be, 

Bot for hir luf es til me lele, 

I forgif hir fmnes ful fele, 

Ga, he faid, womman in pes, 

For al thi fmnes forgiuen es, 

This tal haf I tald you, 

To fcheu on quat maner and hou, 

That quen Crifl cumes intil our hertes, 

To lef our fm he us ertes, 

And geres us afk him forgiuenes, 

Of al our fmnes mar and les. 

His firft to com was bodili 

Quen he was born of our Lefdi, 
For than he com in fles and bane 
For to hel fmful man ; 
His other com es gafhilye. 
Til our hert, quen we lef folye, 
For of us felf haf we bot fm. 
Of him comes al our welth and win, 
For quen he cumes gafllic us to. 
Than haf we wil us god to do. 

Nou haf ye herd twifald to com. 

The thred fal be on day of dom, 
Quen we fal ris thoru blafl of bem 
And Crifl fal cum al folc to dem. 



20 Dom, /'. Advent, Domini, 

Til god men fal he be quern, 
And to the wik ful grifli fern, 
Igain thaim fal he be fa brem, 
That of his land he fal thaim flem, 
Of this to com tel I noht nou, 
For Crifl him feluen telles hou 
He fal cmn than, and wit quat miht, 
In our godfpel to dai fefniht, 
And qua fa wil that godfpel her, 
Than mai ye fe on quat maner 
Crifl fal cum to dem us alle. 
For igain him may we noht calle, 
Forthi red I we al pray 
That he be til us quem that day, 
And bring us til his mikel blis, 
That til rihtwis men graithed es. 
Amen fay we al famen, 
Thar bes joy and endles gamen. 

Amen, 



Bominicn iu ^trb^ntus JBomini mcunWm SLuram* 




^tdliS, tt in ttvxiSt preig^ui-a gentium pre (onfiuSione iSonituiS 
mavi^S et fluctuum. ^re^centibu^ ]^ominil)u5 pre timore et eji- 
pertatione qut sluperuenient uniuer^o ovU . et cetera. 

ODAY fain Louk telles us 
In our godfpel, that Jefus 
Spac of thing that es to com, 

And namelic of the dai of dom. 

Takning he faid fal be don 

Bathe in the fon, and in the mon, 

And in the flernes al bid en, 

And folc fal thol wandreth and ten, 

For folc fal duin for din of fe. 

And for baret that than fal be, 

Ouer al this werd bes rednes, 

Wandreth, and uglines, 

For mihti gaftes of the heuin 

Sal be afrayed of that fleuin. 



22 Dom. it. Advent. Domini. 

Than fal Crift cum that men may fe 
In maillri and in gret pomle. 
Quen this bigines for to be, 
Lokes up and ye may fe 
That your biing and your pris 
Ful ner cumen til ward you es. 
Him felf our biing he calde, 
For he boht us quen he was falde. 
Quen Criil hauid faid this grimli fau, 
An enfampel gan he fchau, 
And faid, quen ye fe lefes fpring. 
And thir tres froit forthe bring, 
Than wat we wel that fomer es ner. 
Als may ye wit on that maner, 
Quen ye fe thir takeninges in land, 
That Crift es ful ner cumand. 
For heuin and erthe fal pas thar, 
Bot my word paffes neuer mar ; 
Als qua fai, thing that I you telle, 
Ne mai na miht fordo ne felle, 
Quen this werld that I mad of noht 
Sal be gane and til end broht, 
Than fal mi word be fothe faft. 
For mi kinric fal eucr laft. 
This es the ftrenthe of our godi'pel, 
Als man wit Inglis tung may tel. 



Dom. ii. Advent. Domini. 



The maifter on this godfpel preches, 
And fais that Crid: thar in us teches 
For to forfak this werdes winne, 
Ful of wrechedhed and iinne, 
For Crifl fais us hou it fal end, 
And warnes us ful fair als frend, 
He telles us takeninges fnelle 
Thar he biginnes his godfpelle, 
And fais kinric fal rohly rise 
Igain kinric, and ger men grise, 
For bale fal ger thir bernes blede, 
And mak in land hunger and nede. 
This bale fal bald baret breu, 
And fel mikel of this werdes gleu. 
Slic wordes faid Crifl of thir wers 
That folc in werd ful derf deres, 
For quatkin wer fal fal in land. 
Til pouer folk es it fareil fchouand, 
That felis wel nou hali kirk 
That bers of baret be ful irk ; 
For it and pouer men hauls bathe 
Of wer and wandreht al the fchathe, 
This baret pinnes pouer pride 
Als thai wel wat that walkes wide, 
Bot werdes haht and hey tures 
Getes thir cite men fra flures. 



24 Dom. ii. Advent. Do^nini. 

Forthi riche men hauls ay, I wis, 

Inohe of met and drinc and blis, 

Bot pouer tholes the baret, 

That hauis defaut of clathe and met, 

And forthi warnes Jefus bathe 

Riche and pouer of thair fchathe, 

Thar he fchaues in our godfpelle 

Takeninges that bird our pride felle. 

He fais takeninges fal be don 

Bathe in the fone and in the mon, 

The fun fal turn intil mirknes, 

Als fais Joel, that bers witnes 

Of Crifl that thir takeninges us fchaues 

In our godfpelle wit grifli fawes : 

For mon, he fais, fal turned be 

In til blod, that folk fal fe, 

Quen fun and mon fal thufgat turn, 

Than fal the fmful far fcurn. 

For than may thai wit witerly. 

That Crift fal com to dem in hi, 

Bot god men fal na thing dred. 

For than fal thai be feker of med 

In that blisful land that thay 

Sal euer lif in gamen and play ; 

And Crifl in our godfpel forthy 

Confortes us ful mikleli. 



Dom, ii. Advent, Domini, 25 

And bides us lok til grouand tres 
For quen men leues on thaim fees, 
Men wat that ful ner es fomer comand, 
And riht fua mai we underftand 
Quen we fe thir takenis cume, 
That nerhand es the dai of dom. 

Bot for Crifl fpekes of takeninge 

That tithand of this dom fal bringe, 
Forthi es god that I you telle 
Sum thing of thir takeninges fnelle : 
Sain Jerom telles that fiften 
Ferli takeninges fal be fen 
Bifor the day of dom, and fal 
Ilkan of thaim on fer dai fal. 
The firfl dai fal al the fe 
Boln and ris and heyer be 
Than ani fel of al the land, 
And als a felle up fal it ftand. 
The heyt thar of fal paffe the felles 
Bi fexti fot, als Jerom telles, 
And als mikel the tother day 
Sal it fattel and wit away. 
And be lauer than it nou eife. 
For water fal it haf wel leiTe. 
The thride dai merfuine and qualle 
And other gret fifes alle 



26 Dom. ii. Advent. Do^nini, 



Sell yel, and mak fa reuful ber 

That foru fal it be to her. 

The ferthe day freis water and fe 

Sal bren als fir and glouand be. 

The fift day fal grefes and tres 

Suet blodi deu that grilli bes. 

The fexte day fal doun falle 

Werdes werks bathe tours and halle. 

The feuend day fal ftanes gret 

Togider fmit and bremly bete. 

And al the erthe the achtande day 

Sal flir and quae and al folc flay. 

The neynd day the fels alle 

Be mad al euin wit erthe falle. 

The tend day fal folc up crep, 

Als wod men of pittes dep. 

The el left day fal banes rife 

And (land on graues thar men nou lies. 

The tuelft day fal fternes falle. 

The thretend day fal quek men dey alle, 

Wit other ded men to rife, 

And com wit thaim to gret afife. 

The faurtend day at a fchift 

Sal bathe brin bathe erthe and lift. 

The fifetende day thai bathe 

Sal be mad newe and fair ful rathe, 



Dom. ii. Advent. Domini, 27 

And al ded men fal rife, 

And cum bifor Crift our iuflife. 

'^xCtst Fergus tre efttstrem Signis. 

SIgnis ter quinis fe prodet ad ultima finis 
Mundani motus Domino foli modo notus. 
In figno primo furget mare flans quafi murus 

Erigat in proprios pofl pauca finus rediturus, 
Atque quater denis cubitis tranfcendere montes 
Cernetur, paucique fluent in flumina fontes. 
Oculet in figno fie fe maris unda fecundo, 
Ut vix afpectum capiat : diuerfa profundo 
Monilra fuper fluctus pofl hec ubi nata patebunt, 
Rugitufque fui celos horrore mouebunt. 
Quarto cum fluuiis ardebunt equoris unde, 
Fontibus ut latices effundant non erit unde. 
Rorem fanguineum quinto deducet ab [herbis] 
Horror et arboribus lacrimis perfufus acerbis. 
Hinc turres et tefta cadent, que diruet edes 
Sexta dies, omnis que folo ruet ardua fedes. 
Augebit lapidum conflictus in orbe timorem, 
Terribilemque dabit colHfio feua fragorem. 
Concuciet terrain pofh hec motus generaHs, 
Omnia conturbans, horrendus, et exitiafis. 
Omnibus equatis in piano terra jacebit, 
Strata fuperficies nichil afperitatis habebit. 



28 Dom. ii. Advent. Domini, 

Hinc velud amentes exibunt ante latentes 
In latcbris homines et fari nulla ualentes. 
Sicca fuper tumbis pod hec furgencia ftabunt. 
Cafus ftellarum fignans difcrimine finem 
Nefciet ulterius clarum deducere finein. 
Corpore uiuentes fimul abfque mora morientur, 
Ut pariter clangente tuba cun6i:i repetentur. 
Optimus inde ftatus celum terramque nouabit, 
Luce fub eterna, quem nulla dies uariabit, 
Conuocet ut cunftos cum buccina protinus urgens 
ludicis ante pedes ueniet plebs tota refurgens. 

3l0ti F^tstts omittatttur a \tt\t>xt quantro Ugit 
^ngltcum coram lagcis* 

Than fal Crift dem als king ful wis, 

And ger the fmful fare grife, 

Sa grilli fal he to thaim be, 

That thaim war leuer that thai moht fle 

Fra that dom that he fal dem 

Than al this werd, fa bes he brem 

Tille thaim that fmful cumes thar. 

And forthi fal thai gret far. 

And fay alias that we war born, 

Schamlic haf wc us felf forlorn. 

Than falle thair wike dedes alio, 

Stand and igaines thaim kalle, 

And with thair takening ber witnes 



Dom. ii. Advent. Domini, 29 

Of thair fin and thair wiknes. 

Of mikel foru fal thai telle, 

For Satenas wit feres felle, 

To bind thaim he fal be ful fnelle, 

And bremli draw thaim till helle, 

Thar thai fai euermare duelle, 

And wafullic 4n pines welle, 

And endeles of foru telle. 

This bes thair dom that her in fm 
Ligges, and wil thair fm noht blin, 

Bot wald thai think on domes dai 

Thaim bird lef thair plihtful play. 

Alias alias quat fal thai fay 

Bifor him that miht ful may, 

Quen al the men that was and effe 

Sal fe thair fmes mare and leffe, 

And al the angeles of the heuin, 

And ma fendes than man mai nefen. 

Igain fawe may thar nan be, 

Of thing that alle men may fe. 

Of this openlic fchauing 

Hauls Godd fchawed many taking. 

Of a taking that I haf herd telle, 

That falles wel til our godfpelle. 
^avracto. A blak munk of an abbaye 

Was enfermer of all I herd fay. 



30 Dom. ii. Advent. Domini. 



He was halden an hali man 

Imange his felaus euerilkan, 

An cloyfter monk loued him ful wel, 

And was til him ful fpeciel, 

For riuelic togider drawes 

Faithe lufreden god felawes. 

Fel auntour that this enfermer * 

Was fek, and he that was til him der 

Com to mak him glad and blithe, 

And his lufredene til him to kithe, 

He alked him hou he him felid, 

And he his ftat alle til him telld, 

And faid ful hard fel 1 me, 

To dede I drawe als ye mai fe. 

His felau was for him fary, 

And praied him ful gern forthie, 

That yef Godd did of him his wille. 

That he fuld fcheu his flat him tille. 

This feke monk hiht to com him to, 

Yef he moht get lef thar to : 

I fal, he faid, yef I may, 

Com to the my flat to fay. 

Qiicn this was iayd, he deyed fon, 

And his felau alked his bon, 

And prayed Godd for his mercy e, 

That he fuld fchew him openly, 



Dom. ii. Advent, Domini, 31 

Other wakand or ilepand, 
Of his felaw ftate fum tithand, 
And als he lay apon a niht, 
His felaw com wit lemes liht, 
And tald him bathe of heuin and helle, 
And he prayed he fuld him telle 
His ftate, and he faid wel far I 
Thoru the help of our Lefdi, 
War fcho ne hafd ben, I hauid gan 
To won in helle wit Satan. 
His felau thoht herof ferly, 
And afked him quarfor and qui, 
And fayd, we wend alle wel that thou 
Haued ben an hali man til nou : 
Hou fal it far of us kaytefes, 
That in fm and foli lyes, 
Quen thou that led fa hali life, 
Was demed tille hell for to drife. 
Quen this was faid, the ded anfuerd 
And tald his felaw hou he ferd, 
And faid fon quen I gaf the gafte, 
Till my dom was I led in hafle. 
And als I flod my dom to her 
Bifor Jefus, wit dreri cher, 
Of fendes herd Ic mani upbrayd, 
And a boc was bifor me layd, 



32 Dom. it. Advent. Domini. 

That was the reuel of fain Benet, 
That Ic hiht to hald and get. 
This reul thai gert me rapU rede, 
And als I red, far gan I drede, 
For ouerlop moht I mac nan, 
Bot of the claufes euerilkan, 
Yald Ic account hou I thaim held, 
And my confciens gan me meld. 
It fchawed thar ful openlye 
That I led mi lif wrangwiflie, 
For in the reul es mani pas. 
That than igain me caften was, 
Quar thoru almafl haued I thare 
Ben demid til helle for to fare. 
Bot for I lufed wel our Lefdye 
Quil I lifd, Ic hafd forthie 
Ful god help thar thoru hir mercy. 
For fcho bifoht Crifl inwardlie 
That I moht in purgatorie 
Clens mi fm and mi folye. 
Forthi hop I to far ful welle, 
For mi foru fal fon kele ; 
Forthi my frend I prai the, 
That thou ger felaus prai for me. 
C^en this was faid, awai he went. 
And his felawe ful mikel him ment, 



Dom. //. Advent, Domini. 2>2> 

And efter this fiht mani a dai 
Gert he for his fawell prai. 

This tal haf I tald you, 
To fchew on quat maner and hou 
We fal be demed, and yeld acount 
Quat our fmnes mai amount, 
For al fal com to rounge, I wis, 
Thar^ that her miftakin iffe 
Bi the left idel thoht. 
For thar forgifnes bes riht noht. 
Than fal we bye the fines dere 
Of quiike we er noht fchriuen here, 
Yef we be her of fines fchriuen, 
Thar hauis Godd us thaim forgiuen, 
Forthi birdd us our fin her bete, 
Wit fchrift of mouthe and wonges wete. 
For fchrift of mouthe es medecine 
That fchildes man fra helle pin, 
For if we fchrif us clen of finne 
Wit penanz, dcd we fal haf winne, 
And mai be fiker on domes dai. 
To wind intil that blifful plai, 
Thar Crift fal euer mar be king, 
For his merci he thider us bring. 

Amen. 



JBominica iiU ^trb^ntus Domini s^cttntrum p^atj^ttm. 

Cum autii^^ct S^oljamu^ in biiuuli^ opera Crii^ti, mitten^ 
liwo^ tit tJiscipiiIi!^ ^xii^f ait iili ; Cti t^ qui benturu^ t^, an 
atium tvpcctamuig. ^t rcigpontJcn^ ^l)t^\iiS, tiiyit illt^ : dEuntc^ 
venunciatc S^oljanni qiit mitii^ti^ tt uiTJi^tiJl. €tci uitltnt, clautJt 
amtulant . tt cetera. 




AYN Mathew the wangelifte 
Sais that fain Jon the Baptifle 
Was in prifoun, and herd telle 
Of Criftes dedes and his fpelle, 
And fend of his decipils twa, 
And bad thaim thai fuld ga 
To wit at Crift, quither it war he 
That fuld cum mannes bote to be, 
Or we, he faid, an other Crill fal bide, 
That fel miht the fendes pride. 
Sain Jon decipels yed and faid 
Thair erand that on thaim was laid, 



Dom, Hi, Advent. Domini. '^s 

And quen Crifl thair aiking herd, 

Ful mildely he thaim anfuerd, 

And bad thaim tille thair maiiler fchaw 

His dedis that thai herd and fawe. 

A Is qua fai, dedes bers wittenes 

Of me, that I fothefafl Godd es, 

I gif the blind, he faid, thair fiht, 

I ger the halt men ga riht, 

I mac unhale men al hale, 

And def men I bet of bale, 

I rais men fra ded to life. 

And pouer men mas me ful rife. 

And ful bliced, he faid, es he 

That es noht fclaunderd in me. 

Als qua fai, Jowes hauis eftand nithe 

At me 'for the ferlikes that I kithe, 

Forthi er thai fclaundered in me, 

Quen thai miht of mi goddhed fe. 

And forthi bliz Ic him wit graze 

That folues noht the Jewes traze. 

Slic wordes til thaim fpak Crifl 

That com fra fayn Jon the Baptift, 

And quen thai hafd herd Crifl fawe, 

Hamward til fain Jon gan thai drawe. 

And als thai til fain Jon ward yode, 

Crifl fpac tille thaim that bi him ftode. 



36 Dom, Hi. Advent, Domini, ! 



For thai hauid ben fain Jon to fe 

In wildernes, for thar woned he, 

Bifor that Herodis the feloun 

Did fain Jon in his prifoun. 

Forthi afked Crift mare and lefle, 

Quat thing thai foht in wilder nes. 

Quat thing, he faid, yed ye 

Intil wildernes to fe. 

Wend ye of fain Jon for to finde 

A red that waiues wit the wind. 

Als qua fay, he es nan of tha 

That waifes for welthe or for wa, 

For werdes welthe and wa es winde. 

That makis werdes men ful blinde. 

For welthe to pride our hert draus, 

And wa geres us thol hard traues, 

Bitwix thir tua we held als reed. 

In wa we murne, in welthe we wede, 

Bot fain Jon igain bathe flode. 

For nouther of thaim chaunged his mod ; 

Forthi alked Crifh quether man him foht 

Als he war man of fliker thoht. 

And thus aikid Crift quether men yede 

To fe a wind waiuande rede, 

Quen thai yed fain Jon to fc. 

That ftithe ftod als ftalworth tre, 



Dom, Hi. Advent, Domini, 2>7 

Als qua fai, wen ye that he 
Es als tuifald of hert als ye, 
Nai, for he es fa fledfalte 
That na wind mai him fra me cafte. 
Slic wordes als I you telle 
Sais Crifl to dai in our godfpelle 
Of fain Jon, that ftithe flode 
Igain fanding of werdes flode, 
For he no was noht lie in dede 
Til thaim that heldes als the rede. 
For mani man mai bifend be 
Unto the rede, als thine me, 
That es at fay, thir glotherers 
That in thair an hand fir beres, 
In the tother water ber thai, 
Als la wed men er wen to fay. 
Thai kindel baret wit bacbiting. 
And flokenes it wit thair glothering, 
Thai heeld in tuin, als dos the red, 
Wit fair fpeche and wit falshed. 
Thai ger thair riche men mifdo, 
For al thai: thing thai fpek thaim to ; 
For quethir fa thai do wel or ille. 
Thai hald wit thaim in al thair wille. 
Mirthe and med and werdes belde 
Gers thaim til falflied helde. 



38 Dom. Hi, Advent, Domini, 

Bot fua did noht fain Jon, I wis, 
That fnibbed Herod quen he did miffe. 
And faid it was igain the lawe 
His brother wif fleyflic to knawe. 
He helded noht, bot flithe flod, 
And for fothefawe fched his blod. 
In fled of tal, I wille you telle 
Hou it of his flahter felle. 
I^ota. The king Herode wit mikel unriht 

Raeft his brother his wif that hiht 
Herodias, and fain Jon herde 
Wit quatkin fin Herodes ferd. 
And fnibbed him of his fmne, 
And bad him that he fuld it blinne. 
(>Qar thoru Herodes a!s feloun 
Did fain Jon in his prifoan. 
Herodias als wikke womman 
Wald that fain Jon hauid ben flan. 
He mired hir llcfly liking, 
Forthi fcho wald to ded him bring, 
Bot chefoun till him fand fcho nan, 
For Herodes that him hafd tan, 
Sau that he was an hali man. 
And thoht ful lathe to be his ban, 
For of fain Jon flod him awe. 
And fmned les for his fa we, 



Dom. Hi. Advent. Domini. 39 

And herd his word wit god wille, 

And did mikel that he faid him tille. 

Herodes mad a feft, and cald 

Princes thar to and bernes bald, 

And als he wit his gefles feete, 

And mad him glad, and drank and eet, 

Bifor him com a fair yong lafce. 

That Herodias dohter was, 

And tumbeled fa wel for alle, 

That thar was gedered in that halle, 

That al war payed of hir play, 

And Herodes til hir gan fay, 

Quat fa thou wil, thou aik me. 

For freli fal I graunt the. 

He fwar his athe that he fuld fille 

Alle hir aiking and hir wille. 

Thoh thou he faid alk haluen dele 

Mi kingerik, I grant it wele. 

This mai ran tille hir moder fwithe, 

And bad hir that fcho fuld hir lithe 

Quat the king hir hauid bed. 

And afkid hir moder quat fcho red. 

Hir moder was fain quen fcho this herd, 

And fone hir dohter fcho anfuerd, 

And faid, loc that you alk noht 

Bot that fain Jones hefd be broht 



40 Dom. Hi. Advent, Domini. 

In a difce fone bifor the, 
For this thing wald I gladli fe. 
This maiden child ran to the king, 
And faid, fir, this es min allying, 
Yef thou wil that mi wil be don, 
Thou grant me min afking fon. 
And gif me in a difce weued 
Sain Jon the Baptifl heued. 
Ful ille payed was the king 
Quen he herd this aflcing, 
Him thoht fcham igain to kalle 
That he hauid hiht bifor thaim alle. 
And for he hauid fworn his athe. 
To wrech that laze thoht him lathe, 
Forthi he fend his queller foune 
And bad hir wille fuld be don. 
His queller did als he him bad, 
And mad this maiden child ful glad, 
For he broht hir als fcho hauid faid. 
Sain Jones hcuid in a difce laid. 

Thus was this mai iiiin Jones ban. 
That was for riht and lothefaw flan. 
But thurt him noht haf tint his heued, 
Yef he als red wald haf weuid. 
Yef he hauid noht fnibbed the king, 
Bot loued his dedes wit glothering. 



Dom. Hi. Advent, Domini. 41 

Than moht he haf gan quit away, 
And lifd in werdes welth and play. 
Bot he did wel better than, I wiffe, 
For nou es he in well mar bliffe, 
And Herod and Herodias 
Er bathe in hel wit Satenas. 

Nou haf ye herd hou fain Jon ftod 

For fothefaftnes, and ched his blod. 
Forthi in our godfpel fais Crift 
Til the folc, of fain Jon the Baptift, 
Wend ye of fain Jon for to find 
A red that waiues wit the wind, 
Nay, but fwa ftedfafl es he, 
That na thing gers him tuifald be. 
For he fal fland in fothefaflnes, 
And thol ded for rihtwifnes. 

An other alking, als auntour felle, 

Alked Crift in our godfpelle, 
Til thaim that ftod him about, 
And of fain Jon hauid dout, 
Quat yed ye, he faid, to fe 
In wildernes, ye tel me, 
A man robed in wlank wede, 
Als qua fai, nai, ne in fairhede, 
For al men wift that knew fain Jon, 
That he hauid camel har him upon. 



42 Dom, Hi, Advent. Domini, 

Forthi afked Criil, quethir thai yed 

To fe fain Jon in wlanke wede, 

Als qua fai, es he nan of tha 

That er cled in gren and gra. 

Crift fpac of thaim that gas in gren, 

To fcheu the folc quat he wald men. 

In kinges houfes, he faid, won thai 

That er cled in gren and grai, 

Als qua fai, about kinges es 

Wei mar pride than in wildemes. 
Her mai ye fe that Jhefu Crift 
Loues fain Jon the Baptifle. 

For he in pouer wed was cled, 

And in pouert his lif he led, 

And her bi wil Crift us lere. 

To forfak proud clething her. 

The god clerk fain Gregorie 

Schewes us aperteli, 

Yef fm no war in wlanke wede, 

Haued noht Crift loued fain Jon in lede 

For the clething of pouert : 

For thoh prid be al in the hert, 

Riche clething noht forthi 

Schroudes fua man bodi, 

That rifli geres it man think mar 

Of his bodi, that it wel far, 



Dom. Hi, Advent. Domini. 43 

Than he of his fawel dos, 
Sua thine him of his wed gret ros, 
Quil he fandes his fleis to fede, 
And mac it fayr wit wlanc wede. 
His faimes witout he fchawes 
To fem better than his felaues. 
For elles forze wald he nan mak 
Quether his clething war quit or blac, 
Bot for he wil be heier calde 
Than othere, and for better talde, 
Forthi he fchroudes his bodi 
And lates of pouer men hetheli ; 
The liking of his wlanc wede 
Gers him tin his fawel mede. 
Forthi loues Crifl in our godfpel 
Pouer wed [our prid to fell], 
And aikes ef the folc yed 
To fe fain Jon in wlanc wede. 
Als qua fai, bifen fal ye take 
This werdes welthe for to forfak, 
For werdes welthe and prid and play 
Endes al wit ten and tray. 
In our godfpel yet alkis Crifl 
Of fain Jon the Baptifle, 
For thris the folc afkid he, 
Quat thing they yed for to fe 



44 Dom, Hi. Advent. Domini, 

In wildemes, and at the lafl 
He cald fain Jon prophet fothefaft, 
And faid to thaim, I fai you yet, 
Yed ye to bihald the prophet, 
Of fain Jon in wilderneffe, 
Ya, wit ye wel that mar he efTe 
Than prophetes war in his tim, 
For prophetes fpac mikel of him, 
Thoru quaim God hit he fuld fend 
His angel, mannes hf to mend. 
I fend, he faid, my meifager 
Bifor mi face mi word to berre. 
This fais the fader of heuin to Criil 
Of fiin Jon the Baptift, 
That bifor Crift graythed the way 
Als fais our godfpel of today. 

Nou haf I graytheli you tald 
Hou fain Jon the Baptifl es cald 
Jefus Crifl meifager. 
For he was fend his word to ber. 
And I to dai fourtenniht tald 
Hou fain Jon bodword broht bald. 
He was ryt Criftes meifager. 
For he broht word that he was ner. 
And als was he mar than a prophet 
Quen he fcheued that he bihet. 



Dom. Hi. Advent, Domini. 45 

It falles to prophet for to fai 
The thing that efter falle may, 
Bot fain Jon faid and fcheued bathe, 
For that he hit, he fcheued rathe. 
Quen Crifl com to flum Jordan 
Als other men did mani an, 
Of fain Jon to be baptift, 
Than faid fain Jon Jefu Crift 
Til al that folc wit fwetli fwar 
That thar habout him gederid war. 
This es that lamb that I you hiht, 
That dos away this werdes pliht, 
Godes lamb mai ye fe her, 
Of him fpac Ic als meffager. 

Bot her mai fum man thine ferly, 

Als fais the clerk fain Gregorie, 
That fm fain Jon the Baptift 
Knew fa wel that Jefu Crift, 
Quarfor fend he lithen him tille, 
To wit quether he fuld fulfille 
Thing that was faid in prophecie 
Of him that mankind fuld bie. 
Firft fain Jon faid that Crift was he. 
That al mankind bot fuld be, 
And fithen he fpired quether he war cumen 
To felle the fend that man hauid nomen. 



4^ Dom. Hi. Advent. Domini. 

Ful fchilfuii and wit refoun 

Mai men afk this queflioun. 

The god man fain Gregorie 

Undos this word dohtilye, 

And fais that fain Jon ful wel wifl 

That he of quaim he fpac was Crift, 

That tok kind of maiden Mari, 

Bot he no wift noht witerlye, 

Quether he fuld mankind bye, 

And heri helle als king mihtye, 

And forthi fend fain Jon him to, 

To wit quether he war com to do 

Thing that moht bring man fra helle, 

Thar him bihoued euer dwelle, 

Tillc he war comen that haued mihte 

To fulfille that the prophetes hauid hiht. 

That es at fay, to mak the fin 

For fin, and bring thaim of pin 

To blis that may haf na ending. 

Our Lauerd Jefus thider us bring. 

A7nen. 




©omintra iiiu in ^tsbmtu l3omini ^ecuntunm Sojannem. 

JHtsierunt 3vCtiti ah Btxo^olr}mii ^aaxtioUS tt Eeuita;^ ati 
Sioi^anutm ut intenogavent turn: Cu qui'Q ts. (itt conU^iixni tit, 
n noil ntgauit : tt confeiSiSuiS t^t : (!tuta non ium to^o €xiit\iS. 
<Bt tuttrrogaueruitt eiim. tt cetera. 

ODAY fais Jon the god godfpellere 
In our godfpel, als ye mai her, 
That Jowes thair meffager fend 
Tille Jon the Baptift, for thai wend 
That he hauid ben Crift, for he 
Baptized al that baptized wald be. 
Thir meifagers fain Jon fand, 
And faid til fain Jon thair erand. 
Bot firft quat he was, afldd thai. 
And he igain to thaim gan fai, 
Crift that ye fek am I noht, 
And thus he fchewed quat thai thoht, 
For thai wend wel that he hauid ben 
Crift, that baptized folc biden. 



48 Dom. iiii. Advent. Domini. 

Thai aiked yef he war Elye, 

Or man that couthe of prophecye. 

And he anfuerd and faid nay, 

Bot quat he was, he gan thaim fay : 

Ic am, he faid, a criand fleuin, 

I bid you mac the gates euin 

To Crifl, als faid faint Yfaye, 

For Crifles meifager es I. 

Thir meifagers was Pharifenes, 

That fundered men on Englys menes. 

Thai war fundered of comoun lif, 

And wit fain Jon gan thai to flrife, 

And faid, fme thou ert noht Elye, 

No Crifl, no prophet, fai us quye 

Baptizes thou tha folc biden. 

And makis thaim of fmne clen. 

And fain Jon anfuerid thanne, 

I mai noht baptize bot als manne, 

For goddhed haf I in me nan, 

Bot Goddis fun manhed hauis tan, 

And you wit water baptiz I, 

He fal baptiz you gaftily, 

Imang you wonand he ifl'e, 

Bot ye no knaw him noht, I wiife, 

He es Crifl that bifor me 

Was Godd, and es, and ai fal be. 



Dom, iiii. Advent. Domini. 49 

He es fa god and derworthi, 

That I mefelf es noht worthi 

Bifor him for to fit on knes, 

The binding of his fcho to les. 

Betani was cald that land 

Thar fain Jon was than baptizand, 

Quen thir Jowes til him yed, 

To fpir of him and of his dede. 

This es the ftrenketh of our godfpelle, 

Als man wit Englis tung kan telle. 

In this godfpelle mai we wel knawe 

Gret meknes in fain Jones fawe, 

For thar men wend that he war Crift, 

He wald that thai the fothe wift, 

And granted fon that he was noht 

The Lauerd that thai thar foht. 

Her may ye alle enfampel tak, 

Ongart and rofmg to forfak, 

For mani man him better mas 

Than he es in ilke place, 

And geres men wen that he be 

Mar worthe than other thre : 

He rofes him of his cumly kinde^ 

He wenes his mak mai na man find, 

He wald be haldin derworthi 

Thoru hendelaic and curtaify, 



50 Dom, an. Advent. Domini, 

His wordes mas him man ful hend, 
Wit lefmg ferues he the fend, 
That fal him rewli rif at eend, 
[Bot he amende hym ore he wende]. 
Thus did noht fain Jon the Baptift, 
For he faid that he was noht Crift. 
Crifles nam wad he noht tak, 
No better than he was him mak. 
Haf we forthi in word meknes, 
Als fain Jon hauid in wildernes, 
Mak we us better noht than we er, 
For Godd no mai we nangat der. 
In our godfpelle wille we fe yete, 
Qui fain Jon him prophet nitte, 
And faid, prophet nan am I, 
Als qua fai, I openly 
Ken you till him of quiiim I fpek, 
That falle the fendes bandes brek, 
Bot fua did neuer prophet are, 
Forthi bird you trou me the mare, 
For Ic am feluen in wildernes 
To graithe the gat of rihtwifnes. 
Als qua iai, C-riil cries in me, 
And biddes al folc rihtwis be, 
For rihtwis gates graithes he 
That loues Godd in Trinite, 



Dom. itii. Advent, Domini. 



Bathe in thoht and word and dede, 
For this gat ledis man to mede, 
And in this gate mai thai wel fpede 
That wille thair lif in lewte led, 
That es at fay, if man till nehbor do, 
That he wald he did him to, 
This es the gat that fain Jon kend, 
Sinful mannes lif to mend. 
This es the gat of rihtwifnes, 
That ledes man til joi and pes, 
Yef we hald us in this gate 
Ful redi fal we haf inlate 
In to that blis that laftes ay, 
For thider ledes Godes way. 
Gern prayed Dauy the prophet, 
That God fuld wiife him to that ftret, 
And faid Lauerd thou fcheu me 
The wai that ledes man to the. 

Forthi I red we hald this gate, 
Ai til we cum til heuin yate. 
This gat biddes fain Jon us grathe 
Wit ded, and lef the waies laythe 
That ledes man til pin of hel, 
Als Crift us fchawes in our godfpel. # 
Thar he fais, brad es that gat that ledes 
Til hel, wit fm and wik dedis, 



Dom, Hit. Advent, Domini, 



This gat es flany and thorny e 
Wit couaitys, and glotounye, 
Wit prid, and nithe, and licherye, 
And mani foles gas thar bye, 
And forthi I red wel that we leete 
This gat, and tak the hey ftrete 
That ledis god men [full euen] 
Wit penanz to the blis of heuin. 
Bot Satenas our wai will charre, 
Forthi bihoues us be waire 
That we ga bi na wrange flies. 
For Satenas ful gern us fpies. 
For ef this thef mai us met 
Out of this forfayd hey flret, 
He bes ful redi, als outlawe, 
To harl us in to wod fchawe, 
And mak us bathe nakid and nais, 
Als fain Gregorie us fays, 
Ilk dai mak we a iome 
Till heuin, ef we god men be, 
Bot in our gat lis Satenas 
Wit his fclawes, als thef in pas. 
And fpies ful gern ef we flraye, 
And kaldes noht the riht way. 
That es at fai, ef we Icf 
Riht liuelad, he mai us ref 



Dom. an. Advent. Domini. S3 

Meknes, faithe, and chaflite, 
Buxumnes, and charite, 
And yef he haf of us poufte, 
He wil ref us al our lewte, 
And led us in that werid waye, 
That ledis til waharmes aye. 
Of this wai riht nou I fpake, 
Forthi I red we it forfak, 
And hald we us in rihtwifnes, 
That riht gat till ward heuin es. 
Bot for I faid that Satenas 
Waites us als ♦^ef in pas, 
I wille you tel ^ a pilgrim, 
Hou Satenas bigiled him. 
llatracio. It was a man als Ic herd fay, 

That til fain Jamis hit the way, 
And that day that he fuld wend, 
He mad a fefl til al his frend, 
Fel auntour that he was fa gladde. 
That Satenas mad him ful madde. 
And gert him dedeh fmne 
Wit a womman, that was thar inne. 
Quen he hauid his fm don, 
Apon his wai he went him fon. 
And he that gert him falle in blam, 
Met him in liknes of fain Jam, 



54 Dom. an. Advent, Domini. 

And aikid him quider he wald wendc, 
Bot he wifl: noht it was the fende, 
And faid, I mac mi vaiage, 
Til fain Jam in pilgrimage. 
The fend anfuerd and faid fone, 
No wat thou noht quat thou hauls done 
In licheri igaines me, 
Ic es fain Jam that fpekis wit the, 
• Thou ert unworthie me to feke, 
Thi vayage es noht worthe a leke : 
Wend thou thi fm fra me to hide, 
Qiien thou it did, I was bifide, 
Thi vayage mai noht pai me, / 
Bot ef thou do that I bid the. 
This man wend that he fain Jam ware, 
And faid, Lauerd Ic am al yare 
For to be boxom you to, 
And do al that ye fai me to. 
Ga fwithe, he faid, and geld the. 
That I thi repentanzc mai fe. 
And fcher thi throt in tua riht fon, 
For hauls thou mi wille don. 
And quen thou hauis thi feluen flan. 
Til heuln falle I ger the be tane. 
This pilgrim wend to pal fain Jam, 
And did himfcluin mikcl fcham. 



Dom. an. Advent. Domini. $5 

And he fchar al awai ful rathe, 

His members and his penndanz bathe, 

And fithen he fchar his throt in tua. 

And fon quen he hafede don fua, 

Satanas was ful redie. 

And tok that fawel gredilye. 

And mad ful gret joi of his prai. 

And til ward helle he tok the wai. 

Sain Peter and fain Jam him mette. 

And baithe thai gan his wai to lette, 

And fain Jam faid to the fend, 

Quider wil to wit mi pilgrim wend. 

And he anfuerd and faid til helle, 

Thar he fal for his fmnes duel, 

For he was his awen ban, 

Forthi in him part haf ye nan, 

Wit riht and refoun he es mine. 

To wend wit me til helle pine. 

Than anfuerd fain Jam for his man, 

And faid, thou lies traytour Satan, 

Thou wat wel thef, thou hauls the woh, 

For in mi nam himfelf he floh. 

He wend wel that thou hauid ben I, 

Quen thou gert him do his folye. 

In deed was he til me bowxom. 

And forthi fal he wit me com. 



56 Dom. iiii. Advent. Domini. 

The fend faid, that mai noht be, 
Wit riht and law mai thou fe 
That he es min thoru jogement, 
For quen he on his vayage went, 
He filed his fawel dedelye 
Wit the filth of licherie, 
And fithen wit his awen knife 
He fet him feluin of his life, 
Wy, fai me Jam, on quatkin wifle 
Moht he mar dey in mi feruife, 
Loc quether I wit riht and lawe, 
May him wit me til helle drawe. 
Sain Jam anfuerd and faid him to, 
Wrang no wille I nan the do, 
Bot yef we wil the fothe treye, 
Gon we til dom of our Leuedye, 
And als fcho demes fal it be, 
For that es riht als think me. 
And fain Peter his felawe 
Said, this think me riht and lawe, 
Mari, he faid, es god iuilife, 
Scho wil do wrang on nan wyfe. 

Quen thai com bifor ur Leuedye, 
Scho demid fon wit hir mercy e, 
At that fliwel til the bodye 
Suld turn, and penance do worthi. 



Dom. Hit, Advent. Domini. si 

And faid, this fawel, als it nou iffe, 
Mai nangat cum til heuin blis, 
Ar it be clenfed in bodye 
Of fm, wit penance worthi, 
Forthi for jugement gif I, 
That it turn til the bodye, 
And clens it wit penance worthi, 
And yem it fithen fra mefchanz. 
The fend for this dom was farie, 
And ille payed that our Leuedye 
Hauid reft him wit riht jogement 
That man that he wit gil had fchent. 

Quen this fawel was cumen igain 

To the bodi, this man was fain, 
And mono in Cluny he him yald, 
And tis tal til his abbot tald, 
Hou he was fchent thoru gilri, 
And faued thoru our Leuedi. 
Georard he hiht, and fra that tim 
That Satenas hafd gabbid him, 
Hali man he was and god. 
And feruid Godd wit miht and mod, 
Bot thar his throt w^as fcorn wit knif, 
A red merk was al his hf. 
And thar his members was bifore, 
Hauid he noht fithen bot a bore. 



H 



58 Dom. iiii. Advent. Domini, 

Bi this tal har may we fe, 
That wis and wair bihoues us be, 
That Satenas ne ger us rayk 
Fra rihtwifnes, to fmful laik, 
For yef he find us out of flret, 
He bindes us baith hand and fete, 
That es at fay, ef he us find 
In dedeli fin, he may us bind 
Wit wik will, and ger us wend 
Fra fin to fin, and fua us fchend. 
For als he gert this pilgrim ga 
Fra fin to fin, and himfelf fla, 
Sua gers he man ga gaftilye, 
Fra glotouny to licherye, 
Fra lychery to couaytye, 
And fua to prid and enuy, 
And at the laft in his prifoun 
He dos him, als thef in prifoun, 
C^ien he gers him in wanhop falle, 
For wanhop his prifoun I calle. 
For qua fa cumes anes thar inne, 
Thar of may he noht lihtli winnc. 
For qua deyes in that prifoun, 
His fawel es broht til a donjoun, 
Thar it wit outen end fal lend, 
Wit al faas, wit outen frend, 



Dom. Hit, Advent. Domini. 59 

For it bes felaw wit the fend, 
That fnellik fal it fcham and fchend, 
And quen this werd bes broht til end, 
Than fal the bodi thider wend, 
Wit that fari fawel to lend, 
Thar wormes fal it rewli rend, 
Thar fal it bi that fari finne. 
That it no wald noht hir blinne, 
That foru mai na tung telle. 
That it fal drey wit fendes felle. 
Hald we us forthi in ftret, 
That Satenas may us noht met, 
That es at fay, in rihtwifnes, 
Quarof fain Jon in wildernes 
Spac, and bad us graythe that way 
That ledis man til gamen and play. 
Our Lauerd in this wai us lede 
Til heuin, and yeld us thar our med. 

Amen. 



^tr tnissatn in j^octe patalis Bomini gecuntrum iLucam. 

(£yiit etictiim a CeiSart ^tigu^to ut tJi^cribcvetui* tmiucvsii^ 
oxhii, ^,tc tJf^cnptio prima facta f^t a pic^itJf ^^xit Cvvino. 
tt fcttra. 



^Ir ntisgam in ilKane jjccuntium iLuram. 

i^astovtig loquebantur atJ tnuifcm. Crans'tamu^ tisqur JSctl)- 
Icnu, tt bitJcamu^ l)oc bcvbiim qiiotl factum t^t, quotJ ftctt 
iDominu^ tt osttntJtt nobis. (£t utntrunt fti^tinantts', tt imitiu^ 
runt iBariam, tt S^os'tp. tt ctttra. 




A and wanderet walkes wide, 
That com of couaitis and prid, 
Torn couaitis and prid, bigan 
Vlan to haf mayftri of man. 
That wafle firft fen in him that hiht 
Nembrot, that was fa bald and wiht, 
'J'hat in his tim maiilri he wan 
Of al the men that lifd than. 
The bibel telles us openlye 
Of Nembrot and his maiftri, 
Hou the folc that was wit him 
Bigan to niak a tour that tim, 



In Nativitate Domini. 6i 



That fuld reche to the liftc, 
Bot Godd that ilcilfulli kan fkift, 
Mad them alle ferely fpekand, 
That nan moht other underftand, 
And gert them lef thair wllgern werk, 
Bot of thair not yet flandes merk, 
In Babilony the tour yet flandes, 
That that folk mad wit thair handes. 
Of that tour nou fpek I, 
For lauerdhed and for maiflri, 
That Nembrot hauid firfl of man, 
Bifor quaim werdes king was nan. 
For he, thoru prid and couaitife, 
Gert folc firfl bowe til his feruife, 
Of him men gan enfampel tak. 
King and thain in land to mak, 
For efter him com kinges fele, 
That gan this werld imang thaim dele, 
And he that hauid mafl miht, 
Feld the waiker king in fiht, 
Bot at the lafl, wan Rom the prifTe, 
And toe of al this werld feruiffe. 
For alle kinges yald trouage 
Till Rom, and feruis and homage. 
In Rom was, als fel auntour, 
A wonder myhti emperour, 



62 In Nativitate Domini. 

That hiht Cefar and Auguflus, 

Als our bibel telles us, 

And in his tim ger he telle, 

Als fais fayn Louc in our godfpelle, 

Of all this werd the cuntres, 

And of cuntres the cites. 

And al the men that war wonand 

Bathe in borwis and apon land, 

Sua that ilk man of eld 

Suld cum til his boru, and gif yeld 

For himfelf and for his menye, 

And graunt that he fuld buxum be, 

Efter his miht in al thing. 

Til Cefar, that of Rom was king ; 

And ouer ai this werd, thoru and thorn, 

Com men and wymmen til thair boru. 

To do the king comandement. 

For qua fa did noht, he war fchent. 

And than was Jofep Mari fpoufe, 

For he hauid broht hir than til houfe. 

And forthi led he hir him with 

Til Bcdliclem imang his kith, 

To yeld thar that to thaim fclle, 

Als faid to day our firft godfpelle. 

And for Mari wit chikl wafle, 

He ledd hir wit him on an aifc, 



In Nativitate Domini. ^z 

And an jx, as we find in fpelle, 

Broht Jofep wit him for to felle. 

Bot ar thai war to toun comen, 

War innes al bifor thaim nonien^ 

Sua that thar was na herberie 

To Jofep and his fpoufe Marie, 

Bot a pendize [that] was wawles, 

Als oft in borwis tonnes es. 

And thar Jofep a crithe wroht 

Til befles that he wit him broht, 

And als he mad a pouer bedd 

Til Mary, that he wit him ledd, 

For than com tim Mari mild 

Suld be deliuerd of hir child. 

And fon quen fcho deliuerd waffe, 

Scho laid hir fon bifor [hyr] affe, 

[And by fore that ox bathe, 

So thay knew hym fore Gode full rathe. 

For in propheci was it fayd, 

That he fulde before thaim be layde. 

Fore Abakuk and Yfay 

Spak tharof apeyrtly ; 

And hyrdes that woke that ilke nyght 

About thair befles, faght a lyght 

Of heuen come lightand thaim aboute, 

And of this lyght thai had a grete doute, 



64 I7^ Nativitate Domini. 

And an aungell byfyde thaime (lode, 
And gladded fone thair fory mode, 
And bad thai fulde haue na radnes. 
Forethi, he fayd, I comen es 
To bryng you bodword of that blys, 
That fall glad all this werld, I wys, 
For Crifl, God fonne, ryght nowe 
Ys borne in Bethleem unto ^owe, 
That je be fyker of this hehtynge, 
I gyf you this to takenynge, 
That ^e fall fynd a chylde thar bonnden 
In a creke, wit cloutes wonnden. 
When this [was] fayd, aungelles fele 
Louid God wit this aungele, 
And [faide], blys and yoi in heuen be 
To worthy Gode in trinite, 
And als in erthe to man be pees, 
That in ryght trewthe and gude lyf es. 
Aftyr this brygnes and this leme, 
Tliare herdes come to Bethleem, 
And fand in chyldebede our Lauedy, 
And als fo Jofeph ftandand hyr by, 
And the chylde in flrethe layde, 
Ryght als the aungele thaim had fayd. 
And by that takyn knew thai ryght. 
That that was Grille that lang was hyght. 



In Nativitate Domini. 6^ 

Before that tyme, in many prophecy, 
And thai loued God full geme forthi, 
For blys that thar in was layd. 
And Mari toke yeme what thai fayd, 
And held in hert thair wordes all, 
And thoght well what of Grille fuld fall. 
Now haue Se herd whare Grifle was borne, 
That boght us all when we war lorne. 
Full wele burd us of hys byrth 
Be glade, and make bath yoi and myrth, 
And loue God, that hym us fende, 
And wit penaunce oure lyue to amend. 
For in his burght now may we lere 
Meknes, that mas man tyll him dere, 
For Crifle wit fwylke mekenes ferde. 
That mare meknes was neuer harde, 
Forethi bird us enfampell take 
Of hys meknes, and pryd forsake, 
When we thynk inwerdly how he, 
That es fa heght in Trinite, 
Was fa meke that he wald take 
Flefche and blode for mannes fake. 
And fythen be borne thus purely 
O the pouer mayden Mary, 
Noght in caftyll, ne in tour, 
Ne in hall, ne in boure, 



66 In Nativitate Domini. 

Bot in a pouer pentis, I wys, 

That lytill was of worldes blys. 

That Lord that fyttes heght in tronne, 

And fchope bath flerae, fone, and mone, 

And heuen, and hell, and erth, and fee, 

And makes frute and flour of tre, 

And all this worlde made of noght. 

And man aftyr hys lyknes wroght, 

Wham all that lyues, loues and loutes, 

For mannes fake was layde in cloutes. 

Whar hard man euer of fwylk meknes. 

Me thynk that he unfely es, 

That lyues in pryde and enuy here, 

And wyll of Crifle na meknes lere. 

A pryde and enuy wa ye be. 

Fore garn burd us that athe fle. 

When we thynk how thai fall far. 

That wyll noght lete at Crifles lare, 

Ne folow hys trafce in meknes, 

That es grunde ot all gudnes. 

Fore thurght meknes es Mary, 

Of heuen and erth, qwene and lady. 

And Satanas thurght pride he fell 

Oute of heuen doune into hell. 

In heuen was he aungcU fayreste. 

And fythcn in hell, fend laythefle. 



In Nativitate Domini. 6y 

O pryde comes all his unfell, 

That neuer may flake ne kell. 

Fore all wa that in this werlde es, 

Come of pryde and of unbuxumnes ; 

For gyf Adams pryd ne war, 

He had bene qwyt of forow and kar, / 

Bot for he sernede for to be 

Als wys als Gode, forthi was he 

Thurght pryde, maked full unwys, 

And flemed oute of paradyfe. 

God flemed noght hym allane, 

Bot thurght hys pryde, us euerilkane. 

Fore had he bene in ryght meknes. 

He had haldyn buxumnes. 

And done als his lorde hym bade, 

And endles in ioy bene fliede, 

Noght he aUane, bot hys offprynge 

Suld ay haue lyued wyht outen ende, 

If he had bene buxume hym to, 

That taght hym all how he fuld do. 

Bot fore he troued mar hys wyfe 

Then God, that gaf hyme lym and lyfe, 

And brak Goddes commaundment, 

Forthi was all hys offprynge fchent. 

And oute of paradyfe flemede. 

And to pyne of hell demede. 



68 In Nativitate Domini, 

Forthi come Goddes fone to menne, 
The way of mekenes thaim to kenne, 
And in hys burght meknes he us kende, 
And in hys lyfe, and in hys ende ; 
And forthi es gude that we be meke, 
And our lorde Grille in meknes feke. 
Fore it es na thyng that fwa fchendes, 
Na dofe fa mekyll fchame to fendes, 
Als dofe meknes, whar wit Grifle boght 
Mankynde fra hell, when he thus wroght. 
That may we by that takenyng fe, 
That gars fendes fra us flee. 
That es the takenynge of the rode, 
Whar on Grifle schede hys blode. 
He fchewed the mafhe meknes thar. 
That euer he fchewed fythen, or ar. 
And for the Fende was ay and es 
Proude, may he tholl bot na meknes. 
And forthi when men the takyne mas 
Of the cros, then flees Satanas. 
For na thyng es, als I fayd are. 
That woundes Satanas sa fare, 
Als dos the takcnying of meknes, 
Fore agayne the fende mail it es. 
JfJarvncio. That may je be faint Martyn fee, 

I'or in his Ivue thus writen find we. 



In Nativitate Domini. 69 

That als he was in orifoune, 

Then come the Fende als kyng wit croune, 

Cled in pall and in rych wede, 

And fayd, Martyne, I will the lede 

To heuen, that befe thi befle bewyfhe, 

For wyt Sou well that I am Crifle, 

That may thou by my fayrnes fe, 

Forthi will I that thou loute me. 

And fant Martyn thurght grace it wyfte, 

That he was noght Jhefu Crift, 

And fayd to hym wyt mylde chere, 

Wyll I noght fe my lord here, 

Bot in that blys, thare he ay es. 

And for this worde of meknes, 

The Fend went away als reke, 

And fled hym for hys anfwar meke. 

And of faint Anton fynd we, 

That fwa meke and myld was he, 
That thurght meknes, many tyme 
Flayed he fendes fell fra hyme. 
And als he was hys ane in flede, 
He faw how all the erth was fprede, 
Wyt pantre bandes, and gylders blake, 
That Satanas had layd to take 
Mans faull, als a fouler 
Tas foules wyt gylder and panter. 



70 I?t Nativitate Domini. 

Than fayd Antone, this gude ermyte, 
Lorde, what thyng fall paffe qwyte, 
And be noght in this fnarres tane, 
And God anfwerde, meknes allane. 
Anothyr ermyte hyght Makary, 
To wham the fende had grete enuy, 
And on a day the fend hym mete, 
Fore fayne he wald his fawes lette, 
And fayd, thou dos me grete dyfpyte, 
For wyt na fyne [may] I the fmyte, 
And the pennance noght forthi 
I fee the do, all that do I. 
Thou fafles mekyll, and I fafte ay. 
For I ete nouthyr nyght na day, 
Thow wakys mekyll, and fwa I do, 
For I hafe neuer ryfle ne ro, 
Bot wyt a thyng pas thou me, 
Sa that I may noght do at the. 
And what es that, fayd Makary. 
Of thi meknes, he fayd, fpeke I, 
For wit meknes thou paffes me, 
That fchendes me, when I it fe. 
For fwa meke was Makary, 
That of hys meknes was ferly. 
In ermytage lange wonnd he. 
On felles, byfyde a grct cyte. 



In Nativitate Domini. 71 

Out of the cyte was he flede, 

And als a ermytte fwylke lyue he lede, 

That hys meknes and hys gude lyue 

Was fone in the cyte full ryue. 

Anoth}^: ermyte come hym tyll, 

And ferued hym at all hys wyll. 

Fell auntour, that this Makary 

Come unto the cyte full rywely, 

To fell thar hys handwerke, 

And fa fell auntour, that a clerke 

Spak wit a burgas doghter fwa, 

That fynfull play laykyd thai twa. 

When fcho wit chylde perfayd was, 

Fadir aikyd and modyr this cafe, 

Wha had done wit hyr foly, 

And fcho anfwerede, a ermyte Makary. 

Full wrath wer all hyr frendes than 

Wyt Makary, that hali man. 

Thai gart take hym and do hym fchame, 

Als he had fpylte this wommane fame. 

Aboute the merket thai hym lede, 

And dange hym that hys body blede, 

And gart hym fynd borghes than, 

To fede and clethe this wyk wommane. 

The tother ermyte that ferued hym 

Was byfyde that ilke tyme. 



In Nativitate Domini, 



And thoght gret fchame of this chaunce, 

And grete for hys maifter penaunce. 

Makary prayd hym that he 

Suld in that cas his borow be, 

And he become hys borow thar, 

Full wa was hym for hys myffar. 

To hymfelfe fayd Makary, 

A wyfe has thou, and forthi 

Behoues the werk fafler and mar, 

Baith nyght and day, than thou dyd ar. 

Els may thou noght wit thi dede 

Thi felfe and thi lemman fede. 

Bathe nyght wroght Makary and day, 

And fent this woman a pert ay, 

That he myght wit hys werke gete. 

And thar wytall fcho boght hyr mete. 

This womane yode wit chylde full lange, 

And tholed paynes fely flrang. 

For myght fcho haue na delyueraunce, 

Ar fcho had talde thurght whatkyne chaunce 

Scho confaywed, and thurgh whame, 

And qwyt fante Makary of hys blame. 

When hyr frendys herd of this, 

Thame thoght that thai had done of mys. 

When thai bctte Saintc Makary, 

Forthi thai wald cry hym mercy. 



I?i Nativitate Domini, jt, 

And fainte Makary hard fay 
At thai wald come, and flede away. 
For he was rad to tyne mekenes 
Wit lonely worde and dereworthynes. 
For loufe word and worldes blys 
Gers men tyne meknes, I wys, 
Forthi flede Crifle man louynge, 
When the Jewes wald make hym kynge ; 
Fore worldes wandretht and pouerte 
Haldes meknes in many mans herte, 
And worldes welth mas man full made, 
Forthi Makary away it flede. 

Thir thre tales haue I you talde. 

To ger you in your hertes halde. 
That ay the halyar that a man es. 
The mar lufes he meknes ; 
For Crifl: us kend, als I fayd ar, 
Meknes in all hys pouer far. 
For in his burght meknes he kende. 
And in hys Hue, and at hys lafl ende. 
Forthi I rede that we fafte pray. 
That Crifl:e lede us here be the way 
Off meknes, unto that blys 
That to meke men graythede es. 

Amen. 



Bominica intra ^ctabam Kattbttatis JSomtni 
secttntrum SLttcam* 

Crant S^oJJtp]^ ct JHavia mater 3l}tin nurantcsl jJuper \)ii 
que tJiccbantur. tt ctttva. 




HYSE Jewes made ilka jer 
Seuen fefles on thair maner. 
But theder come both song and olde, 

That war for Jewes in Jewery tolde, 

In to the temple for to her 

Goddes feruyfe on thair maner, 

And for to make thair oiFerand thar, 

Efter that thair effe wiir. 

And fell auntour, when Crifte was chylde, 

That both Jofeph and Mary mild, 

Come to the temple omang thair kyth, 

And toke yong Jhefu tham wyth. 

And both Jofeph and Mary 

Thoght of Jhefu gret ferly. 



Dom. infra Oct. Nativitatis, ys 

For ferlyes herd thai of hym tell, 

Als fayd faynt Luke in oure godfpell. 

And in the temple fand thai than 

Seynt Symeon, the olde mane, 

That had the haly gafle hym ynne, 

And wyfl what Grid fuld thole for fynne. 

He blyfTed Jofeph and Mary, 

And [childe] Jhefu that flod hym by, 

And fpake of Grift, [and faide that he 

Was fett to many a man to be] 

Bath in ryfyng and in fallyng. 

And in takyng of gayn feying, 

Als who fay, gode men fall ryfe. 

When this chyld fall be juftyfe 

On domefday, when wyk men fall 

In to the pitt of hell fall, 

Bot good men fall ryse and wende 

In to the blys wit owten ende. 

But thar he fpak of taknyng 

[Was ment] of Griftes up ryfyng, 

That was taknyng of gayne fawe, 

For Jewes wald noght hys ryfyng knaw. 

It made tham fory and unfayn, 

And tharfor fpak thay thare agayne. 

And forthi fayd fant Symeon 

Of Grift, when he layd hand hym on, 



76 Dom. infra Oct. Nativitatis. 

This chylde, he fayd, ys fett in taken 
That bes agayn fayd and forfaken. 
And to our Lady als fpekes he, 
And fayd, fo forowefuU fall thou be, 
That fwerd of forowe fall thorowe ftyng 
Thi fowle, for dol and murnyng. 
So dyd hyr hert for forowe thorugh ftang, 
When fcho on rode fugh hyr fon hang ; 
And then was fene what Jewes thoght, 
When thai thoght bryng hym to noght. 
And als faynt Symeon fpak thus 
To Mary, of hyr fon Jhefus, 
So com thar gangand ane old wyf. 
That was a wydow of haly lyf. 
And thorowj prophecy fcho wyfl 
Full many thynges fuld fall of Crift, 
And to the folk fcho tald that tyme 
Thynges that fuld fall of hym, 
How he was fent mans bote to be, 
And by man kynde on rode tre. 
When Mary and Jofeph had done 
That fell to lawe, thai jode home fone. 
And wel wex Jhefu thair childe 
For grace and wyfdom hym fullfylde. 
This es the flrenght of our gofpell, 
Als man on Englyfch tounge may tell. 



Dom. infra Oct. Nativitatis. yy 

But a worde fayd faynt Symeone, 

That ys on fere manere undone, 

Ther he fayd, Jhefu our Lord Kyng 

Was fent in fallyng and ryfyng. 

On a manere, the wordes may 

Full well betaken domefday, 

When gode men, als I fayd are, 

Sail ryfe and to blys fare. 

And wykked folk fall fall doun 

Into hell, that foule dongoun. 

Bot men may fe another thyng, 

In this fallyng and this ryfyng. 

For the Jewes fell £ra all gude. 

When thai flow Crift on the rode,] 

[And hethen men fra fynne ras. 

That before was Crifle faafe. 

For thai rafe gafleli with Crifle 

Fra fynne, when that thai ware baptifte. 

And wha fwa euere es Criflis lyme, 

Him awe to rife gafleli with hyme. 

For when we of oure fynnes us fchryue, 

We rife gaflely fra dede to lyue, 

Fra dede of fynne to life of grace. 

That geres us fle the fendes trace, 

And we may fee reeulye. 

That fom men fallis in foly, 



78 Dom. infra Oct. Nativitatis, 

And rifis of fynne fo wightlye, 
That bettir man es he in hye, 
Than euer jitt before was he, 
That be this tale we maye wele fe. 
^ Cale. Ane erfbiffchope besonde the fe, 

Was wonande in a faire cite. 
A hali man and gude he wafe, 
Bot firfl he fell, and fithene he rafe. 
The Fende at him had grete enuye, 
And gert him fall in lyccherye 
Apon a full felcouthe manere, 
Als je may be this tale here. 
A nonnery was in that contree, 
Fyue myle fra the bifTchope fee, 
And in this ilk forfaide nonnrye 
Was wonand nonnes full manye. 
That ferued God and cure Ladye, 
And kepid thaim wele fra uilanye. 
And aunter fell, that to that howfe 
Come maydens Jhefu Grille to fpoufe. 
Thir maydens ware fent thaire uayles to take 
Of that biffchopc, of whaim I fpake. 
This bifTchope, als the manere es, 
Reuefte him to fynge his mefle. 
Thir maydens come bifore the autere. 
And toke thaire uayles on gudc manere. 



Dom. infra Oct. Nativitatis. 79 

And this biflchope his eye uppe kefl 

To ane of thaim that was fayrefl, 

And fone on hir his lufe was feft 

Swa harde, that he might haue na reft, 

For Sathanas did his maiftrie, 

And fandid him with lyccherye. 

Swa nere his hert hir lufe gon lye, 

That right him thoght that he fuld dye, 

Bot he had of hir his will. 

And might with hir his luft fullfill. 

Here maye %e fe on whatkin wyfe 

The Fend men fandes with his qwayntife, 

For serne he lokis on ilka fyde 

To gere us tyne heuens pride. 

Him think full lathe men come thare in, 

Forthi geres he men fall in fynne. 

Thir nonnes when that thai halowid ware. 

Thai toke thaire leue hame to fare 

Full faire to thaire nonnrye, 

Bot this biflchope lefft farye. 

So was he fondid inwardelie 

With brinnand luft of liccherie, 

That might he nouther ete ne drink, 

Ne haue night reft, ne flepe no wynk. 

For luft him thoght his hert wald breft, 

And he umthoght him what was beft, 



8o Dom. infra Oct. Nativitatis. 

How he might this ilk nonne fange 
To flake his lufl that was fo ftrange. 
Than lettirs fent he hafteli, 
Unto the abbeys of that nonnrye, 
And bad fcho fuld come fwithe him to, 
The nedes of hir houfe to do. 
When this abbeys thir tithandes herd, 
To the biiTchope full fone fcho ferd, 
And fone when fcho was comen thare, 
The biffchop fchewid her all his care. 
So mikil forowe, he faide, I drye 
That for lufe all mofle I dye. 
Bot if thou helpe me in this cafe, 
I may faye for euer allafe. 
Helpe of me than fall thou tyne, 
Bot if thou helpe me of this pyne. 
I haue halden thi hous to right, 
And helpid the with all mi might. 
Now may thou me my trauaile jelde, 
If thou will to my langynge helde. 
I pray the, graunte me my will. 
And ger that nonne come me untill, 
That I had here jiftirdaye, 
For allgate bufe me with hir playe, 
Or elles forfothe, as I the faye, 
Dede mon I be or the thridde daye. 



Dom, infra Oct. Nativitatis, 8i 

To do the gude I haue mynte, 
And if thou ne do, thou hafe it tynt, 
And if thou helpe me in this nede, 
Full wele fall I qwite the thi mede, 
For now may I wele fe and fynde, 
If thou to me will be kynde. 
I praie the, fwithe graunte me my bone, 
And ger that nonne come to me fone. 
And neuened the nonne be hir name, 
For he lettid for na fchame. 
When this abbes thir wordes herd, 
Scho was forwondird and afFerde, 
For wende fcho neuer mare to here 
The bifchope fpeke of fwilk mat ere, 
And fcho umthoght hir als fone, 
What gude the bilTchope had hir done. 
And to hir hous, and hir couent. 
For bathe he had hir giuen and lent. 
And sitt fcho thoght hir fothermare 
That he hir gert be abbeys thare. 
And forthi thoght hir lathe 
In any thinge, to make him wrathe. 
And hir had leuar Goddes wrethe, 
Than for to haue hir biffchopes lethe. 
Forthi fcho grauntid him his bone. 
And went hame to hir nonnry fone. 



82 Dom, infra Oct. Nativitatis. 

And priuely this nonne fcho callde, 
And talde hir what the bifTchope walde, 
And faide, hot if fcho did his will, 
That nonnerie walde he ftrothe and fpill. 
This ilk songe nonne was unmightie 
To ftand agayne this foule folye, 
And faide full fwith, my dere ladie, 
To do soure will, I am redye. 
This nonne to the biflchope fore, 
And of hir felf fcho made a hore. 
Alias, that fcho ne had halden the trifte 
That fcho made with Jefu Crilfe. 
For fothe I faie, and fcho had fene 
How faire hir felf was, and how fchene, 
When that fcho was may den clene. 
Had fcho noght fynned als I wene. 
Alias, that fcho noght undirftude 
How Grille, that boght hir on the rude, 
Had tane hir als his leeue fpoufe, 
And broght hir to his awne howfe. 
Methink fcho chaungid wricchidlye, 
When fcho left Grille hir leue luttbye, 
And toke hir to a fynfull man, 
P'or to be his lemmane. 
A Lorde, forowfull had fcho bene, 
If fcho hir awne (late had fene, 



Dom. infra Oct. Nativitatis. 83 

How faire gafteli fcho was and bright, 

Whiles hir maydenhede was hir tight. 

Lathe had hir bene to do that fynne, 

For any werldes gode to wynne. 

Bot for fcho was als wommane waike, 

Scho heldid fone to fynfull layke, 

That made hir to God full lathe, 

In bodie, and in faule bathe. 

For thare fcho tynt hir maydenhede. 

And thare with all that bliffiill mede, 

That maydens fall haue in that bliffe, 

Thare Crifte thaire lemman fall thaim kilfe. 

And all that will this tale here, 

Gode enfaumpil may thai lere, 

Unfikir of thaim felf to be, 

If thai will underftand and fe, 

How wyfe man this biifchope waife, 

And fithen to foly gon he paffe,] 

Sa ftithelic igain him ras 

The fend, that him feld in place. 

Full ille bers us lah and kinc, 

Quen apon this bifchop we think, 

For he, that thef that gert him falle, 

Es about to fla us alle. 

Bot fmful man gers him oft fchurne. 

And caftis him wit his awen turne, 



84 Do7?i, infra Oct. Nativitatis. 

Quen [he] him fchrifes of his fin, 
And kepes no mar falle thar inne. 
Lauerd, mikel es thi mercie, 
For ay Lauerd, es thou redye 
For to forgif us our folye, 
Als oft als we for mercie the crye ; 
Be our fm neuer fa ugli, 
Thou forgifes us fa freli, 
That al men mai think ferlye 
Of thi pete, and thi mercye. 
For thar na man fal in wanhop, 
That thinkes wel on this bifchop, 
For this bifchop, of quaim I telle, 
Sa dep in filth of fmne he felle. 
That he was worthe to brinne in helle. 
And thar euermar to duelle, 
Yef it no hafd ben thi mercye, 
That gert him ris of fm in hy, 
And forthi fuld alle men lof the, 
And bowfom to thi wille be. 
For thou, that geris the dumbe fpek, 
Thoru fchrift, thou gert this bifchop brek 
The fendes band, and his maiflri, 
Wel birs us blis the derworthelye. 
Kep I na langer her to duelle, 
Bot forthi our tal will I telle. 



D 



om. infra Oct. Nativitatis. 



85 



How this bifchop, wit penanz ras 
Out of his fm, thoru Goddes grace. 

Quen this bifchop this fm hafd don, 
Our Lauerd fend him grace ful fon, 
And gert him think wel of his ftate, 
And fon bigan he for to grate, 
And faid, alias, that I was borne, 
Schamlic haf I me forlorne, 
Bifchop I am, and fuld wel lif, 
And god enfampil til other gif, 
And haf fwa my fawel fchente. 
That I war worthe for to be brente, 
Alias, thate euer was I clerc, 
Qui tok I on me Goddes were, 
Forfothe Ic am wel mar to blame. 
And for to thol wel mar fchame, 
Thanne er thir fimpel lawed menne, 
Thaim I fuld bathe lere and kenne. 
And now am I wel wer than thaye, 
Ic haf plaied a forful playe. 
For Ic haf broken Goddes houfe, 
And reft Ic haf Jefus his fpoufe. 
Alias, alias, that I was bom. 
For al folc mai drife me to fchorn, 
How fal I fare on domes daye, 
Quen I falle be flemid awaye 



86 



Do7n. infra Oct. Nativitatis. 



Fra Goddes faz, til pin of helle, 
Wit outen end tharinne to dwelle. 
Quen he him thoht of helle pin, 
And quat thai thol that er tharin, 
And of that joy that he hafd tinte, 
To fla him felf he hafd minte, 
Sa forful was this erzbifchop, 
That almafl fel he in wanhop, 
Bot Goddes graz was fon redye, 
And wald noht thol him mifcarye, 
Bot conforted him wit fwetly fware, 
And lethed his foru and his kare. 
And gert him ful fon haf god hop. 
That the leftes blodes drop 
Of that ilc derworthi blode, 
That Jefus fched apon the rode, 
Was of wel mar derworthines, 
Than alle men fm of wikednes. 
And fon he gan to kalle and krye 
At the yates of mercye. 
He gert graithc him a priiie fted, 
Thar he moht lif wit water and brede. 
A pouer hous was fon purvaide, 
And pouer atir tharin was layde, 
And thar woned this bifchop lange, 
In foru of hert and penanz ftrange. 



Dom. infra Oct. Nativitatis. 87 

Quen parofchenis com him to, 

Mani nedes wit him to do, 

He gert his ferganz til thaim faie, 

That he in Godes bandes laie. 

For he fended the ferganz 

That thai fuld tel man his penanz. 

This erzebifchop lifd thare, 

In flrang penanz, and foru, and kare. 

Wit hayr ful hard his bodi he cledde, 

Wit bred and water was he fedde, 

He wroht that bodi wa inohe, 

That him to filth of fm drohe. 

He yald it that it gert him do, 

Wit pin, and reft it rejft and ro. 

His foul fleis drohn him to fm, 

Forthi he mad it pouer and thin. 

The lawed folc was iuel payed, 

And for thair bifchop gem prayed, 
For thai wend alle that he fek ware, 
And for him was thair hert ful fare. 
Erles, knihtes, and baronnes, 
Preftes, vikers, and parfonnes 
Toht of thair bifchop gret ferli. 
And pleined thaim, and aikid qui. 
That thai moht noht thair bifchop fe. 
And wel thai wend that ded war he. 



88 Dom. infra Oct. Nativitatis. 

Sum mananced his durs to brek, 

Bot yef thai moht wit him fpek. 

Than wald his chamberlain thaim ilille, 

And fair he graunted thaim thair wille, 

He bad thaim in the palays duelle, * 

And faid he fuld his lauerd telle, 

A lie thair langing and thair wille, 

[And ger the byfchop come thaim tylle]. 

This chamberlain to chamber yode, 

And faid his lauerd, wit fari mode, 

Alle quat the folc faid him to, 

Bot yef thai moht cum him to. 

And quen the bifchop herd this, 

Ful forful was his hert, I wis. 

He chanded fon his ouri wed, 

And forth into the halle he yed. 

The folc faw wel his pouer ftate. 

And far for him gan thai grate. 

For wel thai thoht that he was fek, 

For pal and clungen was his chek. 

His ikin was klungen to the bane. 

For fleifche apon him was thar nane. 

Quen folc wit him thair fille hauid fpokin, 

Igain in chamber was he lokin. 

His frendes faw wel bi his faz, 

That he hafd mifler of folaz. 



Dom. infra Oct. Nativitatis. 89 

And gert him wel eet and drinc, 
And lef his utrageous fwinc ; 
Bot ai he thoht apon his fmne, 
That flang his hert ful far wit inne. 
And quen the laued folc wel herd, 
That thair bifchop better ferd, 
Ful fain thai war, and com riht Ion 
Til him, and aikid him a bon ; 
That he fuld on hey fed day, 
Sing them a meffe, gern prayed thai. 
The bifchop fon him umthoht, 
That ling the mes moht he noht, 
Ar he was fcrifen of his fmne. 
That bate his hert fa far within. 
Bot noht forthi, him v/as ful lathe 
To wain thaim, or mac thaim wrathe. 
He hiht the folk thair meffe to fmg. 
And thai war fain of his hihting. 

Bathe aid and yong, and mar and leffe, 

Com for to her the bifchop meffe, 
Apon a hey fefl day, 
For it to her ful fain war thai. 
Quen the bifchop to fing was graithed. 
And riche atir on auter laid. 
He flod flille, and bigan to preche, 
Als man that cuthe the folc teche. 



M 



90 Dom. infra Oct. Nativitatis. 



He preched on fa fair maner, 

That it was joi for to her, 

And quen his fermoun ended was, 

The folc wit mikel joi up ras, 

And thankid Jefus in that plaz, 

That gaf thair bifchop fli graz. 

Bot he gert thaim fit doun igain. 

And faid, you bird be unfain 

Of me, that fulde be your bifchop, 

For Ic es werr man than ye hop. 

Ye wen ful wel nou euerilkan, 

That I be a ful hali man, 

And I fay you, forfothe, that ye 

Foullic deceuid er of me. 

For me felf haf I fwa fchent, 

That I war worthe for to be brent, 

For Ic am a kaitif lechour, 

And ille man, and Goddes traytour. 

Bifor him al the folc he kald. 

And tille thaim alle his fm he tald. 

Quen he hauid faid his fmful ded. 
He kefl of him that riche wed. 
That es at fai, his veftement, 
And thoru the folc barfot he went. 
This folc bigan to grat and cry, 
And bad him turn igain in hey. 



Dom. infra Oct. Nativitatis. 91 

Thai faid, our Lauerd es ful redi 
To haf of the ful god mercy. 
We wil, thai faid, apon us take 
Al thi fm, and al thi wrak. 
Forthi fader, we praye the, 
Thou tume igain, and bifchop be. 
Bot moht thair praier noht auail, 
For wald he noht trow thair confail, 
Bot did him forthe, als he wair wode, 
Wit foru, and fit, and dreri mode. 
Awai he ran, and far he gret. 
And wit a womman fon he met. 
That bar a child in hir arm, 
In fwethel cloutes Hand warm. 
This child was noht an half yer aid, 
And fpac, thohquethir, wordes bald 
Til the bifchop, and aikid qui 
He was fa forful and fary. 
The child fpac thoru the haligafte, 
And bad him turne igain in hafle. 
Ga fwithe, he faid, and fing thi meife, 
For al thi fm forgiuen eife. 
This child fpac graytheli wit mouthe, 
Bot thoru kind, fpec it ne kouthe. 
Bot thoru mirakel fpac he thare, 
And bad the bifchop lef his kare. 



92 Dom. infra Oct. Nativitatis, 

And turn igain, als Ic haf faid, 
Thar it in noriz arm was laid. 

This bifchop flekerid in his thoht, 
For graitheli no wifl he noht, 
Hougat this yong child fpac him tille, 
Quethir with god gaft, or wit ille. 
Forthi wald he noht turne igain, 
No to the childes norz be bain, 
And did him forthe als he war maddc, 
For riht repentanz mad him radde. 
And an angel bi wai he mette, 
In mannes fourm, that him grette, 
And faid, Godd fendes me to the, 
And biddes the bald and fiker be, 
That al thi fm forgiuen iffe, 
And biddes the turn and fing thi meffe. 
The bifchop for, als he war medde, 
And the angel to kirc him ledde, 
And did his veftement him on. 
And gcrt him fmg his meffe riht fon. 

The bifchop wel fang his meffe than. 
And fithen bicom a hali man, 
That bathe lered, and lawcd faid. 
That this auntour was for him laid, 
To ger him better be manne, 
And flither fland igain Satane. 



Dom. infra Oct. Nativitatis, 93 

And bi this tale, mai we fe alle, 
That God tholes god men to falle, 
For he wil that they ftither rife, 
And be cunnand in his feruife. 
Als oft als man in fm falles, 
Als oft Crifl fra fm him calles, 
And biddes him turn, wit fwetli fware, 
Fra fmne, and fall tharin no mare. 
And forthi that Crifl on flic wis 
Bathe lates us falle, and gers us ris, 
Symeon in our godfpel faid, 
That Crifl to mani man was laid, 
In falling and in rifmg bathe, 
For Crifl lates falle and rife bathe, 
Als we mai bi this bifchop fe. 
For firfl he felle, and fithen ras he. 
Prai we till God of heuin forthi, 
That he haf of us mercye 
And yef we fal in any fchathe, 
He gif us graz to rife rathe. 
And cum wit him to that bliffe, 
Thar nou this bifchop wit him iffe. 

Amen, 




Ctim natuiS t^^tt ^tSu^ m ^Setijltcm Slutfc, in tJitbus' f^erotJts 
regtsi: (JBcce magi ab oricntc tienevunt Slero^otpman, tJiccntc^; 
^U t^t qui natug tiSt rcjr SutJcovum. Slitftmug tnim gttllani 
tiuss in oriente. tt atera. 




HE tuelft dai fra Criftes birthe 
Bides criflen men mak joy and mirthe, 
For Matheu fcheues in our godfpelle, 

Quat menOc til Crifl: als this dai felle. 

He telles us, hou kinges thre, 

Com to Jerufalems cyte, 

And faid, the king of Jowes quar es he, 

That nou es bom, him feke we. 

We faw a flern in our contre. 

We com wit giftes for to fe, 

And for to worfchip him als king, 

That fchewed us fly takening. 

The king Herod herd this tithand. 

And was tharfor ful ille likand. 



In Epiphania Domini, 95 

And alle folk of that cyte, 
Toht ferli of thir kinges thre. 
The king Herodes cald in hie 
The Jowes that knew the prophecye, 
And fperid in quat time, and quat cyte, 
That Goddes fun fuld born be. 
And thai anfuerd and faid, that he 
Suld be born in that cyte, 
That Bedleem was cald in lede, 
And namcouthe boru in that thede. 
Thai fchewed the king openlye, 
That fpac of this thing witerlye. 
Herodes gert calle thir thre kinges, 
And prayed thaim on alle thinges, 
That thai fuld gern fpire efter Crift, 
And fend him word quar was his gift ; 
For 1 wille, he faid, tille him come. 
And worfchip him als worthi gome. 
And he fpired efter that fterne, 
Quar for thai foht him fa geme. 
Quen he riht tim tharof wift, 
He bad thaim gern fpir efter Crift, 
And faid, loc ye wit me to fay 
Quar ye him find, for than I may 
Com fon, and fallen him to bete, 
And him als king wit worfchip gret. 



96 In Epiphania Domini. 

This faid Herodes in vaidye, 
For at Crift hauid he gret enuye. 
For he was rad that Crift fuld cum, 
And put him out of his kingdom. 
Forthi wald he wit quar he ware, 
And him to fla was he ful yare. 
That was wel fen, quen he gert fla 
Seuin fchor thoufand childer and ma. 
To fand Crifles walk to felle, 
For imang thaim he wald him quelle. 
But igain Godd, that es fa wife, 
Mai noht awail mannes quaintile. 

Quen Herod hauid faid quat he wald, 
Tille thir thre kinges, that war cald, 
On wai thai went, and fon thai fawe 
The ftern, that thaim the gat gan fchawe, 
Ai til it com euenlye 
Thar Crifh was abowen, and Marye. 
Thai war ful fain quen thai it fawe, 
And tille that houle gan thai drawe- 
Thar Crifl fatte on his moder kne, 
Redi to kep thair giftes thre. 
Thir kinges com in menikelie, 
And knelid bifor Crifl: in hie. 
And mcnlkid him wit giftes thre. 
Als anfald Godd in Trinite. 



In Epiphania Domini. 97 



The firft gifte was gold, that ifTe 
Richefl of alle metal, I wiiTe, 
And bitakenis that Crift was king, 
For king hafs riueli gold in bing. 
The tother gift that thai gaf Crifl, 
Was rekelis, for wel thai wifte. 
That rekelis bifend his goddhede, 
Als now fhewes hali kirk indede, 
For rekeles rekes upward euin, 
And menlkis him that wonis in heuin. 
The thrid gift thai him tok, 
Was a fmerlis, als fais the boc, 
That bitter es, and mir is cald, 
And mai the man fra roting hald 
Quen he es ded, forthi es fene 
That thai his dede bi [myrr] waid mene. 
Thai faw wel, him bihoued dreye 
Pyn of bodi, and fithen deye. 
Forthi wit mirr thai fchewed thanne, 
That him bihoued dey als manne. 
For al bihoues us paffe that pafe. 
For dede bathe riche and pouer tafe. 
Quen thir ilc thre rihtwis kinges 
Hafd ofred to Crift thir thre thinges, 
A fteuin in flep gaf thaim warning, 
That thai fuld lef Herod the king, 



N 



98 In Epiphania Domini, 

And turn ham bi another way 
In to thair land, and fua did thai. 
This es the godfpel of todai, 
Als man on Englis telle mai. 

Her on fpekes fayn Gregorie, 
And fais the Jowes war unfeli, 
That faw ful fel takeninges 
Of Crifles birth, and hou thir kinges 
Thar fchewed thaim fa openlye 
Thing that thai faw in prophecy, 
And bar witnes that Grid: war cumen, 
And hafd man kind opon him nmnen. 
And fithen, for al that boc moht fai, 
Igain Grift faid the Jowes ai. 
The prophecyes knew thai welle, 
Til thair awen mikel unfele ; 
For thai wald nangat trou that fau, 
No Jefus for thair Lauerd knawe. 
Hefen and erthe, and fun and fe, 
Bar witnes that cumen was he, 
That fuld mannes ftate amend. 
For heuin and fterne in witnes lend. 
That he was cumen that broht us liht 
Into this warld, and makid briht 
The trowthe, that ar was mirk als niht, 
For thoru Grift, trow we nou riht. 



In Epiphania Domini. 99 

The erthe bar als ful graith witnes 

Igain the Jowes wrangwifnes, 

For it fchewed with graithe takening, 

That Crifl was Godd of all thing. 

For writen es in hali hoc. 

That quen Criil deyed the erthe quoc ; 

The funne bar witnes, for it knew 

That Crifl was Godd, quen it witdrew 

The bemis, and was mirk als niht, 

Quen Crifl deyed for mannes pliht ; 

The fe kneu als Crifl goddhede, 

And was hard quen he tharon yed ; 

And mani ertheli other thing 

Schewed that Crifl was Godd and King ; 

For roches raf als dos the clay. 

And quic ras rafes that dede laye, 

That tim that Crifl was on rode flain, 

And yet war Jowes him igain ; 

For wald thai noht thair lefmg lette, 

And faid that Crifl was fals prophete. 

For na takening that thai moht fe, 

Wald thai trow that Crifl, Godd moht be. 

Bot haythen folc gan goddhed fchaw 

In Crifl, that Jowes wald noht knaw. 

For als this dai com kinges thre. 

And bar witnes that born was he. 



lOD hi Epiphania Domini. 

Of quaim the prophecies was fpokin, 
Bot thai wifl noht quare he was lokin ; 
The fled quare he was born thai foht, 
For of his birth douted thai noht. 
Thir cumly kinges, als we finde, 
War cumen of Balaames kind, 
That lang bifor in prophecye, 
Spac of this flern apertelye, 
And of Criftes birth bathe, 
Quar for the king Balac was wrath. 
Lang war to telle of that ftorie 
That Balaam fpac in prophecie. 
Balam kind was won to wac. 
And wait this flern of quaim he fpac, 
For thoru his prophecy thai wifl. 
That it fuld bring tithand of Crifl. 
Forthi was Balaam kind won 
To wak, for ilk man bad his fon, 
Chien he war ded, to wak riht gem. 
And faand yef thai moht fe the flern. 
And mani hondret winters yed, 
Quil Balaam kin fulfild this ded ; 
For faderes to thair fun kend 
To wak ai to thair lines end. 
And on this maner, war thir kinges 
Gret clerkes thoru niht wakinges, 



In Epiphania Domini. loi 



For thai couthe mikel of that clergi 
That clerkes kalles aflronomi, 
That fpekes of flern, and fun, and mon, 
And fchewes thing that ferr es don, J 
Bot of that flern wille I you telle 
Quarof to dai fpekis our godfpelle. 
Sain Jon wit the gilden mouthe 
Sais us that this flern was felcouthe, 
For it no flud noht up on hey, 
Bot tille thir kinges Ian it fley, 
On feld thar thai woe on yol niht, 
And tharin fau thai felcouthe fiht, 
A fair child in this flern thai fau, 
That Crifles birth til thaim gan fchau. 
And bad thaim fek imang the Jowes, 
A child in quaim es alle uertues. 
For fain war thai of thir tithandes, 
And for feir in to Jowes landes. 
To fek quar Jefus was duelland, 
And thoru this fhem thai him fand. 

Nou haf ye herd hou thir thre kinges 
Ofred tille Jefus thre thinges, 
And thohquether war thai haythen men ; 
For bi thair ded wil Crifl us ken. 
For to menfk him gaftelye 
Wit giftes, als thai did bodily e. 



O 



102 In Epiphania Domini. 

For if we in charite lif, 
God gaflly gold to Godd we gif. 
For gold bitakenis charite, 
For na mettal mai better be 
Than gold, for na thing better iffe, 
Than charite til mar and lefTe. 
For if we haf riht charite, 
Til thaim that er mar than we, 
Tille thaim er we fa lele and holde, 
That our feruis es to thaim golde. 
For yef we do that thai bid us 
In god, than folu we Jefus, 
That tille his fader was bowfom, 
Quen he intil this werld wald com. 
And tholed dede on rode tre. 
To gif enfampel of charite. 
For charite fchewed he than 
Bathe tille his fader and til man. 
Til Godd his fader fchewed he 
Riht boufomnes, and charite 
Til mankind, that he lufd fua, 
That for man tholid al that wa. 
Forthi bihoues us ilkan 
Haf riht luf til our oucr man, 
And quat god fa he biddes us do, 
Boufom we au to be him to. 



In Epiphania Domini. 103 

For Crifles bidding we forfac, 
Yef we prelate bidding noht tac, 
Als himfelf bers god witnes, 
Thar he fpekis of boufomnes, 
For fm him felaen moht noht com 
Til heuin, but yef he war bowfom, 
Hou wil we com thar he now es, 
Bot yef we lif in boufomnes, 
Ful lang es euer, lang es euer, 
Bot yef we hon, com we thar neuer. 
Our Lauerd Crifl len us the graz, 
To folu in bowfomnes thi traz ; 
For charyte tharin we fchau 
That we til our prelates au. 
And noht allan til thaim au we 
To haf riht luf and charite, 
Bot bathe tille brother and felau, 
For thaim we au to til and drau 
"Wit god enfampil til godnes, 
And fnibbe thaim for unbowfomnes, 
And yef thai of our help haf nede, 
We aw to help thaim with our dede, 
And yef thai do mifTe igain us, 
Forgif we thaim als did Jefus, 
For he hafd charite inoh, 
Quen he forgaf him that him lloh, 



I04 In Epiphania Domini. 

And afked thaim forgifnes, 
To fcheu us quat charite es. 
For als he did, bihoues us do, 
For elles cum we noht him to. 
That es at fai, hot we forgif 
Leth, and wreth, quil we her lif, 
We mai noht com thar now es he, 
For thider ledes charite. 
Yef we than in charite lif, 
God gaftli gold tille Grid: we gif. 
For charite in hoc es cald 
Gaflly gold, als I you tald. 

Nou haf ye herd wel apertle, 
Quat gold bitakenes gaftilye, 
For gold was the firfl thing 
That kinges gaf til Grift our king. 
The tother gift, als I ar faid, 
Er rekeles that on fir er laid, 
And gifs fmek that fmelles wele, 
And fer men mai the fmek fele ; 
And fua dos creften man praier, 
That es to Grift ful lef and der, 
Yef it be laid opon the fire, 
It flakes Goddes wrec and ire. 
This fir calle I charite, 
That brinnand in us au to be. 



In Epiphania Domini. 105 

It clenfes man of fmful luft, 

Als fire clenfes iren of ruft. 

Opon this fir au we to lai 

Gaftli recles, that es at fai, 

God praier, that ful fuet fmelles, 

And Goddes wreth fwages and felles, 

And geres him grant man his bon, 

Haf he neuer fli fm don. 

The thred gift, als I you tald, 

Was mirre, that mannes fles mai hald 

Abowen erthe fra roting, 

And es of penanz graith takening. 

Bot mirre bites, als I faid are. 

And penanz bites man ful fare, 

Bot ai the farer that it bites, 

The clener of fin the man it quites. 

This filth cal I roting of fin. 

That geres the fawel rot wit in. 

This mirr haldes us fra roting. 

That es, fra lufi: and fra liking. 

Nou haf ye herd of gold gaflelye, 

And als of rekeles apertelie, 
And als of mirr, the thrid thing, 
Quarof man mas gafi:eli oiFering. 
Do we forthi, als did thir kinges, 
And menlk we Crifi: wit thir thre thinges. 



io6 In Epiphania Domini, 

Bot folu we firfl the flern, that ledes 
God men til mirthful medes. 
This flern cal I Godes worde, 
That precheour bringes out of horde, 
That kennes man the riht wai 
Until that joi that lades ai. 
Our Lauerd Jefus Crifl us rede 
To do penanz, and thider us lede. 

Amen. 




moxainica infra Bttuunta IE;pipj&anie> Becunlrum ilttcam. 

Cum factuiS esliSet S^iieiSuiS annovum >"., ^^centJcntibusf pa= 
renttbuiJ ejusi in Sl^ru^alem, iSecurttrum (on^uetuHuttm tiid ttsti, 
con^ummaii^qvit tiitbuS, cum vetiirent, rtman^it pucr S^j^c^uiS in 
Sieru^alem, tt non cognoucrunt pavnitesi. et cetera. 

HE Jowes woned in fer contre, 
And a cuntre hit Galile, 
And burwis tonnes war tharinne, 

Thar Jowes wodes with welth and winne. 

And Mari ledd hir lif with methe, 

In a toun that hiht Nazarethe, 

For thar als hoswif held fcho houfe, 

Wit Jofep, hir lele fpaufe, 

And wit our Lauerd Crifl hir fon. 

Bot quen tim com, that thai war won 

In to Jerufalem to fare, 

For to mac thair ofFerand thare, 

Thider thai yod imang thair kithe. 

And led child Jefus thaim withe. 



io8 Dom, infra Oct. Epiph. 

Quen he wafle tuelf yer aid, 
Als we find in our godfpel tald. 
Sain Loc fais in our godfpelle, 
That quen thai hauid don that felle 
Til Moyfes lauh, ham gan thai ga, * 
And child Jefus willed them fra. 
Quen thai him miffed, thai him foht 
Imang thair kith, and fand him noht. 
And forthi Jofep, and Mari 
War for him forful and fari. 
Thai turned in to the cite, 
And foht ful gern quar he moht be, 
And in the tempil fand thai 
Child Jefus, on the thrid dai, 
Imang maifleres of the Jowes law. 
That thoht ferlic of Crifles faw. 
For al thoht thaim of him felcouthe. 
For wifdom that com of his mouthe. 
And til hir fun faid onr Leuedy, 
Sun, qui haues tou mad us fari, 
Ic and thi fader haues the foht 
Karful, hot we no fand the noht. 
And Grift anfucrd and faid, quye 
Haf ye foht me fa ithcnly, 
"Wift ye noht me bihoued in deedes 
Be bifi in mi fader nedes. 



Dom. infra Oct. Epiph. 109 

And thai wifl neuer quat he ment, 
Bot til his word Mari toe tent, 
And Crifl ham wit his frendes went 
Til Nazaret, quarof I ment, 
And underlout til thaim was he, 
Als god child au til elderes be. 
And bath til Godd and man he thraf 
Wit witte and graz, that Godd him gaf. 
This es the flrenthe of our godfpelle, 
Als man on Ingelis tung may telle. 

On this godfpel fcheues fain Bede 

Criftes godhed, and his manhede. 
His refoun and his wife thewes, 
That he was Godd, ful graitheli fchewes. 
For wife men, als are faid I, 
Of his wifdom thot gret ferlye ; 
And bi his meknes mai man fe, 
That man in felle and flefche was he. 
For he that alle wifdom couthe, 
Herd wifdom mekli of thair mouthe. 
That lefle god couthe than he, 
Forthi bird yong men mek be. 
For Crifl was of tuelf winter elde, 
Quen al wifdom was in his weld, 
And thohquether herd he mekeli 
Wifdom of thaim that fat him bi. 



no Dom. infra Oct. Epip/i 

Forthi bird yong men prid forfake, 
And of child Jefus bifen take ; 
For mekeli fuld thai wifdom here, 
Ar thai fuld other men lere. 
Bot nou er yong man fa bald. 
That thai wil lere bathe yong and aid, 
For ar thai kann thaim feluen ken, 
Wil thai wifdom lere other men, 
Fair eld fchew thai in thair youthe, 
Wit modi wordes of thair mouthe. 
At Crifles lar wil thai noht lete. 
That fat mekeli at maifhers fete, 
And herd mekeli, als I faid are, 
Al thair wifdom, that thai fpac thare. 
Grid alkid wifdom firil at wife, 
Ar he wald fai thaim his auife. 
And fua kend he us firfl to her, 
And fithen other men to lere. 

Bot thar Jofep, and Mari fand 
Crifl: imang wife men fitand, 
Thar mai we graithe enfampel take, 
Unwife felawfchip to forfake. 
And hald us imang wife men. 
That kan us wifdom lere and ken. 
For riueli fe we him that drawes 
Til recolage of ille felawes. 



Dom. infra Oct. Epiph. m 

Falle als fol in fele folies. 

Be he neuer fa quaint and wife. 

For he mai nangat be lot lefe 

Of thair fm, and thair wiknefe. 

For qua fa nehe wit hend or flefes 

Hate molten pic, on thaim it cleuis : 

Pik that cleues quen it is tan, 

Bifens deling wit wik man. 

For his fm clefes on god men, 

And mas thaim fouler thanne the Fen : 

And forthi red I that man drawe 

Til hali man, and god felawe, 

That mai amend him of his fake, 

And chafli him, ef he miftake. 

Als did fain Jon the godfpeller, 

That for efter a fol ful fer, 

And did awai his dedes dim. 

And mad an hali man of him. 

For thoru il felawes was he 

Mad als ille man als he moht be. 

Bot fain Jon turned him fra fm, 

And gert him hali lif begin, 

Forthi es god that I you telle, 

Hou it of that man liuelad felle, 

For bi him we mai bifen betac \ ^ 

Ille felawfchip for to forfak. 



112 Dom. i7tfra Oct, Epiph. 

^avracio. Quen hali kirc bigan newli, 

Sain Jon was fifel, and bifi, 
In ordaining of prieftes, and clerkes, 
And in cafling kirc werkes. 
And mani bifchopes ordainte he, 
Abowen the lawed folc to be. 
And als he com a kirc to fe, 
A felcouthe fair child thar faw he, 
Bot noht forthi, that ilke childe 
Was fa unthewed and fa wilde, 
That alle the fchathe that he moht do, 
He did quen he bigan to thro. 
And fain Jon hafd gret pite, 
That flic a child fuld dampned be. 
Sayn Jon bitaht this ilke childe, 
Til a bifchop to mak him mild, 
And faid, bifchop, I comand the, 
That this trefor wel yemed be ; 
Yem this child, for I biteche 
Him to the, als til god leche ; 
I.at thou noht this child mifciirye, 
For yef he do, til the tac I. 
This bifchop tok this chikl him to. 
And baptized it, and gcrL him do 
The thing that fel til creftendom. 
Bot ille felawes til him com, 



Dom. infra Oct. Epiph. n 

And droh him firfl til dronkennes, 
And fithen til lufl of his fleys, 
And fithen til thift and robberie, 
And mad his maifler ful farie, 
For that bifchop kal Ic his maifler, 
Til quaim fain Jon thot him to faifler. 
For ille felawes hafd Hi maiftri 
To tille this yong man to foli, 
That the bifchop moht noht him halde, 
Bot leet him gang quar he walde. 
Thir theues war of him ful fain, 
For til thair wille wex he ful bain. 
Sa ftithe and ftalward man wex he, 
That thai gert him thair maifler be, 
And lang he welc wit his felawes. 
And reft lele men in wode fchawes. 
And fain Jon com another time, 
And afked his maifler efter hime. 
And faid, quar es mi trefore, 
Thou ger him fwithe com me bifor. 
This bifchop flod als he war fchent. 
For he wifl noht quat fain Jon ment. 
He wend he allied filuer or gold, 
Or ueflement of riche fold. 
And forthi til fain Jon faid he, 
I wat neuer quat ye afk me. 



114 Do7n. iiifi^a Oct. Epiph 

And fain Jon faid, quare es he, 
That child that I bitaht to the. 
Quen this bifchop his aiking herd, 
He gret ful fare, and thus anfuerd, 
Alias, that Ic him euer fan, 
For he es bycomen an outelau. 
And fain Jon gret, and faid him tille, 
Alias, qui yemed thou him fa ille. 
Til him hauis thou ille yemer ben. 
For that es on him nou wel fen. 
An hors, he faid, ye fadel me, 
For I wille fehe him quar he be. 
And fain Jon fore thar he was. 
And fand him fitand in a pas. 
And quen his felawes fain Jon faw, 
Til him gan thai alle drawe, 
Bot thair maifter knew his face. 
And fled ful fwithe out of that place. 
Sa mikel fcham of him, him thoht, 
That loc on fain Jon moht he noht, 
Bot fled fra him ful fafl: runnande, 
And fain Jon folued fafl: calland. 
And faid, lef fun, I prai the. 
Thou cum igain, and fpec wit me. 
Qui flees thou thi fader qui, 
Al thi flnne on me tak I. 



Dom. infra Oct. Epiph. 115 

And at the lafl, this outlaw flode, 
And loked doun wit dreri mode, 
And fain Jon fel him fon to fete, 
And far bifor him gan he grete. 
And faid, fon, at mi lare thou lete, 
God forgifnes I the bihete, 
Thi fmnes tak I al on me. 
And I fal prai Godd for the, 
And fikerlic I her the hyte 
God forgifnes of al thi plihte. 
This man fel to fain Jones fete. 
And far bigan he for to gret. 
And faid, I grant wel mi foly. 
Of me fader thou haf mercye. 
He foloued fain Jon to the kirc. 
And hiht him al his wille to were. 
And was fa god man fra that time, 
That al the folc hafd joy of hime. 

Her mai ye fe a tal that fchewes, 

That mikel fchathe dos il felawes, 
For il felawes oft drawes 
God men til iuel plawes. 
Forthi es god we draw thaim tille. 
That gaflly wirkes Goddes wille, 
For Criil in our godfpel us fchawes 
Enfampel to drau to god felawes. 



ii6 Dom. infra Oct. Epiph. 

For our godfpel fals quar and quen, 

Crift was funden imang wis men, 

And noht imang fol felawes, 

That tilles man til plihtful plawes. 

To tel you yet haf I thoht, 

Of tha thre dayes that Grill was foht, 

For gladli wald I it war fen, 

Quat thir thre dayes wald men. 

I tald hou Jofep and Marye 

Soht Crifl thre daies ythenlye. 

The firll dai that thai foht him, 

Bitakes that ilke aid tim, 

That was fra Adam, to that law 

That Godd wald to Moyfes fchaw. 

In a felle, that than was kald 

Sinay, als in hoc es tald. 

For patriarkes in that tim 

Soht Grift, bot thai no fand noht him. 

The tother dai quen Grift was foht, 

Bitakens tim quen lau inbroht 

Knawing of fm, that es at fai, 

Quen lau did unknawing awai. 

For thoru wifting of Goddcs law, 

Biganne man fm for to knaw : 

Bifor was thar na pain laid. 

On thaim that mis did, or mis faid, 



Dom. infra Oct. Epiph. iiy 

Bot fon quen law til Moyfes com, 

It fchewed ilke man his dom. 

This tim lafted fra Moyfes 

Til Crift, that kend us rihtwifnes. 

And in this tim, was Crifl foht 

Wit prophetis gern, bot fand thai noht. 

Bot on the thrid dai was he 

Funden, for nou him find we. 

This tim es nou, and lafles ay, 

Fra Crifles birth to domesday. 

Quen this tim bigan, was Grill: funden 

Liggand, in pouer cloutes bunden. 

This thrid tim bisend ifle 

Bi that thrid dai, I wifle. 

That Jofep and Mari mild 

Fand in the tempel Crifl thair child. 

Yet mai we other thinges fe 

Riht gaflli, bi thir dayes thre. 
That Crift was foht, and on the thrid 
Was he funden, thar he was hid. 
Reuthe of hert for plihtful plai, 
Es bifned bi the firfl dai. 
And bi the tother, open fchrift. 
That geres man his hert uplift. 
And worthi penanz bi the thrid. 
That geres man for Godd be red. 



ii8 Dom. infra Oct. Epiph 

Yef we feke Jefus wit thir thre, 
In his tempil him find fal we. 
His tempil cal Ic heuin ryke, 
That mai til tempil be mad like, 
For tempil is mikel, lang, and wide, 
And mikel thing man mai thar hide. 
And fua fal be in heuen blis 
God criften fawles, I wifle, 
Fra Satenas, and al his miht, 
That her was won with him to fiht. 
In that tempil es Jefus king, 
For his merci he thider us bring. 

Amen. 







iSuptie facte ^unt in Cana Galilee, et erat mater ^f)t^u vbu 
2Eocatu^ t^t ^})t^uS et tii^cipuli tin^ att nuptial. (£t XitiicitnU 
mno Kictt mater 3i)t^n at( eum ; umum won ]^al)ent. et cetera. 

AIN Jon telles us a talle 
In our godfpel, of a bridale 
That was maked in a cyte, 

That hiht Cana Galile. 

And our Lefdi Mari was tharc, 

And Crifh wit his decipeles yare 

War thider cald, and als thai feet, 

Wine wanted thar thai ete. 

And Mari til Crifl mad her mane, 

And faid, fun, win haf thai nane. 

And Crifl anfuerd and faid thanne, 

Quat es til me and the, wommane. 

Als qua fai, qui affces thou me 

Mirakel, that I toe noht of the. 



120 Dom. i. post Oct. Epiph, 

Of the toe I noht hot manhed, 
That mai fcheu na mirakel in dede, 
For yef I fal help in this nede, 
Itt bihoues com of mi goddhede, 
And noht of brukel blod and bane, 
That I toe of the, wommane. 
Wit dett mai thou noht afl<: me, 
Bot manhed that I toe of the. 
Mi tim, he faid, com noht yete, 
Als qua fai, bale fal I bete 
Wit mirakel, that I fal fchaw, 
And mikel folc fra vantrauth draw. 
Bot min dedes noht forthi 
Bes noht fchewed fa haflili, 
Quen tim cumes mi miht to fchaw, 
Than fal thou, and ma men it knaw. 
And feruanz war at this bridale, 
That birled win in cupp and fchal. 
And Mary bad that thai fuld do 
Al that Jefus faid thaim to. 
Sex feteles of (tan war thar flanand, 
Als than was cumand in the land, 
And Crifl bad thaim thir feteles fille 
Wit water, and thai did fon his wille, 
And filled thaim of water ilkan, 
And Jefus blifced thaim on an, 



Dom. i. post Oct. Epiph. 121 

And bad thaim dib thair cuppes alle, 
And ber tille bern befh in halle. 
Thai did Crifl comandement, 
And bar the wine riht thar he ment. 
This wine tailed that bern balde, 
And til him the bridgom he cald, 
And faid, ilc man that makes fefle, 
Gifes firfl forthe the win flrangeft, 
And fithen quen men dronken ere, 
Than birles he thaim wit waikere ; 
For think me ferli that thou, 
Held ai thi befl win til nou. 
This was the firfl mihti dede, 
Quar wit Crifl fchewed his godhed. 
And euer fra that ilke time, 
His decipeles troued in hime. 
This es the flrenthe of our godfpelle, 
Als man on Inglis tong mai telle. 

On this godfpel fpekis fain Bede, 

And lofes Crifles mihti dede ; 
And ef Crifl paied no ware 
Of matirmoyne, hafed he noht thar 
Cumen to fchew thar his goddhede, 
For god lif mai fpoufed men lede. 
This fpoufmg gafleli fchewes us, 
That hali kirc was til Jefus 



Q^ 



122 Do7n, i. post Oct. Epiph. 

Spoufed als wif in our Lefdi bodi, 

Of quaim Crifl toe fleys us to bi. 

For mannes fawel efs Crifles fpoufe 

That he fal bring til heuin his houfe. 

For herof fpac God til Adarae, 

Quen he him made of erthe and lam, 

And faid, fader and moder fal man forfake, 

And til his fpoufed wif him tac. 

Sua did Grift that this werld forfoc, 

And til mannes fawel him toe. 

He left Jofep and Mari bathe, 

And deyed to les our fawel of fcathe. 

Than bird our fawel lef other thing, 

And luf Grift hir fpous and hir king. 

Hir aid fader bird hir lefe. 

And on hir lemman clep and wete. 

Hir aid fader cal I Adam, 

That broht hir into balful blam. 

Hir bird lef, yef fcho war wis, 

Dedes that reft us paradis, 

Als prid and unbowfomnes 

And couaitis that als ill cs. 

Thir thre reft Adam paradis, 

Als fais fain Gregori the wis, 

Als netliir mar man fmd mai 

In Lenten on the firft fundai : 



Dom, /. post Oct. Epiph. 123 

Thar mai man Adam dedes find, 
That flemid him, and al his kind. 
Hir flefFader cal I the Fend, 
For igain hir es he unhende -, 
For bathe niht and dai he fandes 
For to bring hir in til his bandes. 
And ef our fawel forfac him. 
That es again hir fell and grim, 
Hir bihoues forfac alfua, 
Hir ftepmoder that dos hir wa. 
Hir ftepmoder es fleys liking, 
That til hir ftepfader wil hir bring. 
This fader and this moder bathe, 
Er ay about to do hir fcbathe. 
Forthi es god that fcho thaim lefe, 
And on hir lemman clep and wefe, 
And fai, Jefus, mi fa I fle, 
And til the, lemman, tac I me. 
And ef fcho gern opon him crye, 
And luf hir lemman inwardelye, 
Hir lufli lat es win gafllye. 
That Jefus drinkes ful gladlye. 
Bot ef fcho gif of him na tale, 
Than wantes wine at hir bridale, 
For al hir lof and hir fuetnes, 
In gafteli water turned es, 



124 Dom, /. post Oct. Epiph. 

That es at fai, til werldes play, 
That als water wites awai. 
Bot Crift wit graz cumes her ine, 
And turnes this water till wine. 
For into wine Crift water turnes, 
Quen finful man for fin murnes, 
For yef he haf hop of merci, 
And lofes Jefus inwardlye, 
Ic hop that his luf and his fwetnes 
God gafleli win in boc cald es. 
This turning was bitakend thar, 
Thar Crift turned, als I faid are, 
Water into win wit his miht. 
For water bifenes fm and pliht. 
That was wel fen quen fain Thomas 
Of Canterburi born was ; 
His moder dremid that fcho fawe, 
Quen fain Thomas was in hir maw, 
Al the mikel water of Temis 
Rin in the bofem of hir kemes : 
Sho tald hir drem til a god man. 
And he undid it fone on an. 
And faid, a child es the witin, 
In quaim many il man fal fin, 
For baret fal he thol and wa 
Of finful caitifes and thra : 



Dom. /. post Oct. Epiph. 125 

This water flowed gaflili, 
Wit eft and nythe and felonny, 
Quen fain Thomas fchedd his blod, 
For his luf that boht him on the rod. 

Ye fe hou fm and wikkenes 

Bi water gafteli bifen es ; 
Forthi ef water be us ine, 
Our Lauerd turn it into wine. 
Gafleli wyn cal I charite, 
Our Lauerd lens us graz that we 
Mai haf it in ur tid and time, 
For this es wine that paies him. 
Lat we this god wyn in us fmk, 
And birl we him tharof to drinc ; 
For god win til Crifl birl we, 
Ai quil we lif in charite. 
Our Lauerd len us that we mai 
Drinc wit him wyn that lafles ai. 

Amen. 




mominic^ it. j)O0t Octabam ^pipjanie> g^puntrum 

Cum tlcs'antJiiggct M)tMis tit monte, ^tciitt sunt eum tuvht 
multe ; et tcce Icpvo^iii^ uemens" atJovabat cum, tJiccns' : i3omuw, 
^i xiis, potc^ me munUait : ct evtcutJcn^ manum tctigit tum. ct 
fctcra. 




AYN Matheu fais in our godfpelle, 
That Crifl com dunward of a felle, 
And folc ful fel folued him, 
And a lazer that ilk tim, 
Com and aiked Grid his hele, 
Bifor tha fern of folc fa fele. 
And Crifl on him his hand he laid, 
And mildelie til him he faid, 
I wil mac the of leper clene, 
And fone was na wem on him fene : 
And Grill bad him that he fuld hele, 
And fai noht qua gaf him his hele, 
Bot loc, he faid, that thou the fchaw 
Unto the preft of Moyfes law, 



Dom. a. post Oct. Epiph. 127 

And mac ofFerand that ber witnes 

Of thin heling, als bad Moyfes. 

And Crifl went til Chapharnaume, 

And met thar wit a mihti gume, 

That maifter was of knihtes fele, 

And praied Crift, that he fuld hele 

His fergant of parlefye. 

And Crifl faid, I fal cum in hie 

Thi feke fergant for to hele. 

And he anfuerd als man ful lele 

And faid, Tc am unworthi gom, 

That thou in til min hous fuld com, 

Bot witt thi word thou bid him be 

Al hale, and fon al hale bes he. 

For Ic am man under poufte, 

And Ic haf knihtes under me, 

And I comand an gang, and he 

Gas, and another cum to me, 

And fuithe comes he me to. 

And dos al that 1 bid him do. 

Als qua fai, I trou wel that thou 

Es almihty and worthi nou, 

Yef thou an lepi v/ord wil fay, 

Thi word mi fergant hele maye. 

Quen this man haued faid his wille, 
And fchewed that Crifl moht it fille. 



128 Dom. a. post Oct. Epiph. 

Of his trouthe thoht Criil ferlie, 

And faid til thaim that flod him bie, 

Til you, he faid, forfothe I faye. 

That Ic haf walked mani waie 

Imang Jowes, bot fand I nan 

Sa mikel trouthe als in this man : 

Als qua fai, thoh he payen be, 

He hauis mare trouth in me. 

Than Jowes that me for Godd luld knau, 

Als thai find writen in the lau. 

Forthi fchaued Grift thar, hou Jowes 

That wald noht trow on his uertues, 

Suld ga for thar wantrauth til pine ; 

And payns that trowed him ine, 

Thoru trouth of hali kirc fuld wende. 

Until the blis witouten ende. 

And faid, rnikel folc fra bi wefle. 

And fra bi eft, fal com and refl 

Wit Abraham and Yfaic, 

And with Jacob, that thaim fal tac 

Into thair felawfchip in heuin, 

Quen Satenas fal Jowes quenen 

In ouer mirkenes, thar fare greting 

Sal cuer be, with teth gnailling. 

This es the flrenthe of Grilles faw, 

That our godfpel today wil fchaw. 



Dom. ii. post Oct, Epiph, 129 

Bot noht forthi Crift granted fone, 
Until this comli gom his bon, 
And faid thi praier haf I done, 
And thar the her na langer hone , 
And his fergant that cumbered was 
Wit parlefi, al hal he rafe. 
Thus endes our godfpel to daie, 
Als man on Ingelis telle maye. 

The maifter fais on this godfpelle, 
That for Crifl com doun of this felle, 
This forfaid leprous was made hale, 
And blifffuUi bet of his bale ; 
Bot ef Crifl hafd noht comen doune, 
Hafd he noht hafd his benifoune. 
And herbi wille the maifler mene, 
That mankind hafd noht ben mad clen 
Of fm, bot Crifl haued comen doun 
Fra heuen, to gif for man ranzoun. 
For man quaim fmne mad unhale, 
Hafd noht ben bette of his bale, 
Bot yef Crifl haued til him comen, 
And his feknes opon him nomen. 
And clenfed him of leper of fmne, 
That alle mankind was fallen in. 
For riht als leper mas bodi 
Ugli, and lathe, and unherly, 



i3'=> Dom. it. post Oct. Epiph, 

Sua mas the filth of licheri, 
The fawel ful lath, gaftelye, 
And the bolning of priue pride 
Es leper, that na man mai hide. 
And eft and nythe and felounye 
Mai be cald leper gaflilie. 
And couaitis of fymounye, 
That was wel fen on Gyfeye ; 
For Gyezi and al his kind, 
Als we in boc of Kinges find, 
Was unhale thoru fymonye. 
That mikel fpilles nou clergye. 
For it es fin quar wit man bies 
Wit werdes catel prelacyes ; 
And thing that Goddes gift fuld be, 
For werldes welthe felle we, 
Ai quen we do gaflly dede 
For gift, mar than for Goddes mede ; 
Als did unthriuand Giezye, 
That wex unhale thoru his gilrye. 
fiarracio. The boc of Kinges telles us, 

Hou the prophet llelifeus 
Of leper heled an hethen man. 
That mihti was, and hiht Naaman j 
Bot gift of him wald he nan take. 
For him thoht it war fin and fiike. 



Dom. ii. post Oct. Epiph, 131 

To fel the gift that Godd him gafe. 

Bot he hafd an unfeli knafe, 

That wald gladli katel haue, 

For couaitis til fin him draue , 

For he ran efter Naaman, 

Quen he was fra his maifler gan, 

And faid, mi maifler fendes me 

To tac fum curtaifi of the, 

For frendes er cumen him to. 

And fum god bihoues him thaim do. 

And Naman gaf him robes tua, 

And fair wan of filuer als fua, 

And in his hous he hid ful rathe, 

The filuer and the robes bathe. 

Bot his maifler, thoru prophecye, 

Wifl al his dede and his gilrye. 

And Gyezi, als noht ne ware. 

Com til hiffe maifler hous ful yare, 

And his maifler aflced him fon, 

Quethen comes thou, quat hauls thou don : 

And he faid, fir, I yod nouther quare. 

And his maifler anfuerd him yare. 

And faid, I faw ful wel thi thift. 

Of Naaman hauls thou tan gift, 

Forthi that Godd Naaman helid 

Toe thou gift, and fithen it helid, 



132 Dom. ii. post Oct. Epiph. 



Fort hi thou, and thi fones ilk ane, 

Sal be miiliale als was Naamane. 

And riht als Helyfeus hiht, 

Sua fel him for his awen pliht ; 

For Giezi, and his offpring, 

Was unhale for this miftaking. 

Toru this refoun es fymonye 

Cald leper in hali hoc gafllye, 

And this leper, and other ma 

Com Crifl in our fawel to ila. 

Mankind of Adam leper haued fmitte, 

Ai til Crifl com and heled it, 

Riht als he held bodily e, 

This forfaid unhal man in hye, 

(^en he com dounward of the felle, 

Als this dai telles our godfpelle. 

Sua helid he gaftli mankinne 

That was unhal wit filth of finne, 

(Xien he com doun fra heuen hey, 

To hele man, and for him dey. 

Bot quen Crifl com doun of this felle, 
Als to dai telles our godfpelle, 

Folc loued him, als I faid, ful fele ; 

Bot fum loued him for fawel hele, 

Sum his mirakel for to {q^ 

And fum for kif and charite ; 



Dom. ii. post Oct. Epiph. 133 

And he that loues in rihtwifnes, 
Criftes foluer gafhlic he es ; 
Bot foles fele loues the Fend, 
Quen thai fra fm to fm wende, 
Fra glotonie to licherie, 
Fra couaitis to tricherie, 
This es the Fende wai, that ledes 
Til Satenafes brinnand gledes. 
Bot he that Hues in charite, 
Crifl himfeluen folues he ; 
And yef we folu Jefu Crift, 
He ledes us til his biwift, 
Thar we fal lif in gamen and plai, 
Wit outen ten, wit outen trai. 
Our Lauerd Jefu Crifl us fpede 
To do penanz, and thider us lede. 

Amen. 




IBominit^ iiU poQt (3ttahata &pipf)Knie^ g^cuntrum 

^^ctntitnU M)t^\i in nabiculam slccuti sunt eum tJiscipuIi 
tins ; et tcct motuiS magnus' factum e^t in mavi ita ut uabtcula 
openrctur fluctilju^. tt ctUxa, 




A IN Matheu the wangelifte 
Telles us todai, hou Crifh 
Schipped into the fe a time, 
And his decipelis al wit him. 
And quen thair fchip com on dep, 
Jefu feluen fel on ilep, 
And gret temped bigan to rife, 
That gert the fchipmen far grife. 
Thai wakned Grid, and faid yare, 
Help us Lauerd, for we fofare. 
And Grid, als mihti Godd, anfuerd 
And faid, foles qui er ye fered ; 
Als qua fai, Godd es in this fchip 
That mai wel faue this felaufchip. 



Dom. Hi. post Oct. Epiph. 135 

And Crift comanded wind and fe 
To lethe, and fair weder be. 
And fa fair weder was in hie, 
That al his felaues thoht ferlie, 
And faid, quatkin man mai this be, 
Til him bues bathe winde and fe. 
This es the ftrenthe of our godfpelle 
Als man on Ingelis tong mai telle. 

Al hali kirc, als thine me, 

Mai bi this fchippe takened be, 
That Crifl rad in and his felawes, 
Imang dintes of gret quawes. 
For fchip fletes on the ilode. 
And hali kirc wit coftes gode, 
Fletes abouen this werldes fe, 
Flouand wit fm and caitifte ; 
God creften men er hali kirc. 
That Goddes wil wille gladli were. 
This fchip ful gret wawes kepes. 
And Crifl tharin gafleli flepes, 
Quen he tholes god men and lele, 
Wit wic men and fals dele. 
That betes thaim wit dede and word 
Als fe bare betes on fchip bord. 
For wit enfampel, mai we fe 
That al this werld es bot a fe. 



136 Dom. Hi. post Oct. Epiph, 

That bremli bares on banc wit bale, 
And gret fifches etes the fmale. 
For riche men of this werd etes, 
That pouer wit thair trauail getes, ♦ 
For wit pouer men fares the king, 
Riht als the quale fars wit the elringe. 
And riht als fturioun etes merling. 
And lobbekeling etes fperling, 
Sua flroies mare men the leffe, 
Wit wa and werldes wrangwifnes, 
And fchathe that lefTe tholes of mare 
Smites als florm of fe ful fare. 
And forthi that Crift tholes this, 
Ite fembeles that he ilepand is ; 
Bot thai that thol thir ftrange ftowres, 
Thai waken Crifl and afkes focoures 
Wit orifoun, that es prayer. 
That wakenes Crift, and gers him her 
Al thair wandreth and thair wrake, 
And wit his miht he geres it flake. 
For rihtwis criften man praier 
Es til Jefus fa lef and dere, 
That quat fa euer we afk tharin, 
And we be out of dedeli fm, 
Our Lauerd granntes it us fon, 
Yef fiwel hel be in our bon. 



Dom. Hi, post Oct. Epiph. 12,7 

For yef we prai God that he 
Grant that igain our fawel be, 
Us au to thine na ferlye 
Thoh Godd it warnes ouertlye. 
For bi enfampel mai we fe 
That praier mai unfchilful be ; 
Als ef thou prai Godd that he 
Apon thi fais venge the, 
Thi praier es igain his wille, 
Forthi wil he it noht fulfille ; 
Or yef thou prai efter catele, 
That es igain thi fawel hele ; 
Or efter werdes menfc and miht, 
That geres foles fal in phht ; 
Or ef thou praye him that he leche 
Thi fandinges, and thi wandrethe, 
That dos in to the fawel gode, 
Yef thou it thol wit milde mode ; 
Wit refoun mai thou Godd noht wite, 
Yef he the file aikinges nite, 
For yef he graunt the thi fchathe, 
Thou war noht lef til him, bot lathe, 
Forthi es godd that we him praye 
Thing that our fawel hele mai ; 
For ar we bigin our prayer, 
Wat he quarof we haf mifler. 



13^ Do?n. Hi. post Oct. Epiph, 

Bot for our godfpel fpekes of fe, 
(^arbi this werld mai bifend be, 
Forthi wil 1 fchaw other thinges, 
That er apert bifeninges, 
Bituixe this wlanc werld and fe, 
This werldes welth to do fle. 
Bi fake water of the fe, 
Ful gratheli mai bifend be 
This werldes welth, auht, and catel, 
That werdes men lufes ful wel , 
For fake water geres men threlf. 
And werdes catel geres men breft. 
The mar thou drinkes of the fe, 
The mare and mar threfles ye ; 
And ai the richer that man eife, 
The mar him langes efter riches. 
And in fe dronkenes folc ful fele, 
And fua dos in werdes catele ; 
l^\)r water drunkenes the bodie, 
And catel the fawel gaflelie ; 
For catel drawes man til helle, 
Thar wattri wormes er ful felle, 
And of thir wormes wil I telle 
A tal, yef ye wil her mi fpellc. 
Jinvvacio. An hali man biyond fc, 

Was bifchop of a gret cite ; 



Dom. in. post Oct. Epiph. 



39 



God man he was, and Pers he hiht, 
And thar bifyd woned a kniht, 
That thoru kind was bond and thralle, 
Bot knihthed gat he wit catelle. 
This catel gat he wit okering, 
And led al his lif in corfmg , 
For he haunted bathe dai and niht 
His okering, fine he was kniht, 
Als fafh as he did bifore, 
And tharwit gat he gret trefore. 
Bot Crifl: that boht us der wit pine, 
Wald noht this mannes fawel tine, 
Bot gaf him graz himfelf to knaw, 
And his fm to the bifchop fchaw. 
Qnen he him fchraf at this bifchop, 
This bifchop bad him haf god hop, 
And allied him, yef he walde tac 
Riht penanz, for his fmful fac. 
Ful gladli wil I tac, he faid, 
The penanz that bes on me laid ; 
And the bifchop faid, thou fal mete 
A beggar gangand by the flrete, 
And quat als euer he ail<:es the, 
Gif him, this fal thi penanz be. 
And ful wel paid was this kniht. 
For him thoht his penanz ful liht. 



40 Dom. Hi. post Oct. Epiph, 

And als he for hamward, he mette 
A beggar that him cumly grette, 
And faid, lef fir, par charite, 
Wit fum almous thou help me. 
This kniht alked quat he wald haf ; 
Lauerd, he faid, fum quet I craue. 
Hou mikel, he faid, aikes thou me ; 
A quarter lauerd, par charite. 
This kniht granted him his bone, 
And gert met him his com fone. 
This pouer man was will of wan. 
For poc no fek no hauid he nan, 
Quarin he moht this quete do ; 
And forthi this kniht faid him to. 
This quete, I rede thou felle me, 
For ful pouer me thine the. 
The pouer faid, layth thine me 
To felle Goddes charite, 
Bot len me fum fetel tharto, 
Quarin I mai thin almous do. 
And he anfuered and faid, nai. 
For al that this beggar moht fai, 
And faid, this thou felle me. 
For fetil wil I nan len the. 
The beggar moht na better do, 
BoL faid this corn igain him to. 



Dom. Hi. post Oct. Epiph. 141 

And toe thar for fif fchilling, 

And went him forthe on his begging. 

Quen this corn to the kniht was fald, 

He did it in an arc to hald, 
And opened this arc the thrid daye, 
And fand tharin, felcouthe to faye, 
Snakes and nederes thar he fand. 
And gret blac tades gangand, 
And arikes and other wormes felle, 
That I kan noht on Inglis telle. 
Thai lep upward til his vifage, 
And gert him almafl fal in rage. 
Sa was he for thir wormes ferde, 
Bot noht forthi that arc he fperide, 
And to the bifchope in a ras 
He ran, and tald him his cas. 

The bifchop fan that Godd wald tak 

Of this man fm wrethful wrac. 
And faid, yef thou wil folfille 
Wit worthi penanz, Goddes wille, 
And clens wit penanz riht worthi, 
Al thi fmnes and thi foli, 
I red that thou felf the falle 
Nakid, imang tha wormes alle, 
No gif thou of the felf na tale, 
Bot bring thi fawel out of bale. 



142 Do?n. Hi, post Oct. Epiph. 



Thoh tha wormes thi caroin gnawe, 
Thi pynes laftes bot a thrawe ; 
And than fal thi fawel wende 
To lif of blis, witouten ende. 
This okerer was felli radde, 
To do that this bifchop him badde, 
Bot of mercy haft he god hop, 
And gern he prayd the bifchop, 
And faid, lef fader, I prai the, 
That thou prai inwardli for me, 
That God gif me his graz to fang- 
One my bodi, this penanz flrang. 
The bifchop hiht this man lelye, 
To prai for him riht inwardlye. 
This man went ham thoh he war rad. 
And did als his bifchop him badde ; 
For imang al thir wormes fnelle, 
Als nakid als he was born he felle. 
Thir wormes ete that wrethe manne, 
And left nathing of him bot ban. 

The bifchop went in to that toun. 
Wit clerkes in procefTioun, 
And come into this knihtes wanes. 
And foht ful gem his hali banes ; 
And til this forfaid arc he yod. 
And opened it wit joiful mod, 



Dom. Hi. post Oct. Epiph. 143 

And riped imang tha wormes lathe, 
Bot nan of thaim moht do him fchathe, 
And forthe he gan tha banes draw, 
And thai war als quite als fnaw. 
Quen al tha banes out tan ware, 
Tha wormes gert he brin ful yare, 
And bar thir bannes menlkelye, 
And fertered thaim at a nunrye ; 
Thar Godd fchewes mirakelle and miht, 
And gifes blind men thar fiht, 
And croked men thar geres he ga, 
And leches feke men of wa, 
And fchewes wel wit fair ferlikes, 
That thas banes er god relikes. 

This tal haf I nou tald here. 

To ger you fe on quat maner, 
That the mar catel that man haues, 
The mar and mare his hert craues ; 
And namlic thir okerers, 
That er curfed for thair aferes ; 
Bot yef thai her thair lif amend, 
Thai wend til wormes witouten end. 
That fal thaim reuli rif and rend 
In helle pine witouten end. 
That wifl this bifchop witerlye, 
And forthi did he quaintelye, 



144 Dom. tit. post Oct, Epiph, 

Quen he gert wormes ete this man, 
To yem his fawel fra Satan. 
For wormes fuld his fawel haf rended, 
Quar fa euer it fuld haf lended, 
Yef he no hauid wel ben fcriuen, 
And his caroin til wormes giuen. 
Bot for his fleis was pined here, 
His fawel es now til Godd ful dere, 
Thar it wones in plai and gamen, 
Godd bring us thider alle faraen. 

Amen. 



iiijiit SifJ^u^ tJi^dpulisI ^ui^ ; Simile eiSt regnum celovum 
l^ommi qui gemiuauit ionum ^tmm in agro ^uo . Cum autem 
tJormirent i}cimim!g, utnit tnimtcui^ nuiS tt i^uper sicmmautt. et 
reUra. 




IL his decipeles faid Jefus, 
Als Sain Matheu her telles us, 
Heuen es lie til an hufband, 
That feu god fed apon his land. 
And quen al folc on flep ware, 
Than com his fa, and feu riht thare 
Darnel, that es an iuel wede, 
Riht al imang this hofband fede : 
And quen this fede quarof I mene, 
Was hey abouen the erthe fene. 
Than was thar darnel fen imang, 
That thoht this hofband hine ful ftrang. 
Thir hyne faid til this hofband, 
Seu thou noht god fed on thi land, 



146 Dom. an. post Oct. Epiph. 

Quethen com darnel that es fen 
Imang thi corn nou albiden. 
This hofband anfuerd thaim fone . 
And faid, mi fa this ded haues done. 
Thai aiked him yef he wald thaye 
Suld draw it op and do it awaye. 
And he anfuerd and faid naye, 
For fuagat fpil mi corn ye maye, 
Yef ye draw up the darnel fmalle, 
Ye mai draw up the corn witalle, 
Bot lates it til heruefl: fhande, 
And I fal fay til men fcherande, 
Gaderes the darnel firft in bande, 
And brennes it opon the land, 
And fcheres fithen the corn rathe, 
And bringes it unto my lathe. 
This es the ftrenthe of our godfpelle, 
Als man on Ingelis tung mai telle. 
We mai wel gailli underllande, 
Godd almihti bi this hofbande, 
For Godd fchawes in mennes hertes 
His graz, that thaim til godnes ertes ; 
For Goddes graz es gallly fede, 
That beres froyt of rihtwis dede, 
And other fede our Lauerd fawes, 
That creften men til god lif drawes, 



Dom. an. post Oct. Epiph. 147 

Quen he fendes his meffageres, 

That es at fai, thir farmouneres, 

That clenfes man of gaflli wede, 

And fchawes in him Goddes fede ; 

For quen thai fnib us of mifdedes, 

Than clenfes thai us of gaflli wedes ; 

And quen thai fcheu us heuenes mede, 

Than fau thai in us Goddes fede. 

This es the fede that gaflli fpringes, 

And froyt of god werkes forthe bringes ; 

For it bringes forth charite, 

And boufomnes, and chaflite, 

And riht penanz, wit almous dedes, 

That into the blis of heuen ledes. 

Bot Satenas es Crifles fa, 

And waites ay to do us wa. 

He fawes imang Goddes fede 

In mannes hert darnel and wede, 

That geres men oft and mani fithe, 

In dedes wic coftes kithe. 

For fede of darnel geres men wed. 

And fwa dos that unfeli wede. 

That Satan faues in our hertes, 

For us to wekkednes it ertes ; 

Of this waful fede fpringes wrethe. 

And prid, and nithe, and brother lethe. 



14S Dom. iiii. post Oct. Epiph, 

And couaitys, and tricherie, 
And glotounye, and licherye. 
l^avracio. And of this fede that Satan fawes, 

A god tal fain Jerom us fchawes, 
Of an ermyt, an hali man, 
That woned in wafli bi him an ; 
And als he in his celle fate, 
He faw a fend ga bi the gate, 
And boyfles on himfele he bare, 
And ampolies, als leche ware : 
And thar bifide was an abbaye, 
And thiderward he toe the waye. 
That hali man that faw this fende, 
Afked him quider he wald wende. 
Til yon abbaye, he faid, I gang, 
For thethen haf I ben to lang. 
And this ermyt thoht gret ferlye 
Of thir boyftes, and ailved qui 
He bar on him tha boyftes alle. 
With thaim, he faid, houfel I fiille 
Al the brother of yon abbaye. 
For wit thaim wille I fand to playe. 
And qua fa a medicin forfake, 
Another fal I ger him take ; 
Yef he wil noht of glotounye, 
I fal him houfel wit enuye. 



"iiijjBi 



Dom. Hit. post Oct. Epiph. 149 

Or with fum other fpecerye, 

Of prid and nith and felonnye. 

Or wit fum other lufli drinc, 

That may ger him of fm thine. 

This ermet leet that fend ga, 

And bad him com igain riht fwa, 

And prayed Godd help in that nede, 

And lett that fend in al his dede. 

This fend in til that abbay yede, 

And faand yef he moht oht fpede. 

Quen he haued don al that he moht. 

And fan that his dede litel doht, 

And com igain bi this ermite, 

Wit waful cher and foru and fite, 

This ermit aflced him fol fon, 

Hon hauis thou fped, hou hauis thou don. 

And he faid, Ic haf fped ful ille, 

For nan of thaim wille do mi wille, 

[Thar] wald nan of thaim mi lare lifte, 

Bot an that hatte Teocifl, 

For I find him redi to do 

Mi wil, ay quen I com him to. 

Quen this was faid, he went away, 

And this ermit yod to the abbay. 
The monkes com al him igaine. 
For of his com thai was ful fayne. 



15^ Dom. iiii. post Oct. Epiph. 



He afked efter Teocift, 
And thai kend him til his biwifl: ; 
For ilkan woned in fere celle, 
Als it than til thair order felle. 
Wit Teocifl: this ermit mette, 
And aither other comly grette. 
This ermyt ailced yef he war oht 
Fanded wit fleis liking in thoht, 
And he anfuered and faid, naye, 
For him thoht lathe the foth to faye. 
And this ermyt anfuerd him thanne, 
And faid, Ic am a wel aid mane, 
And thohquethir noht a day til ende, 
Mai I mi fleis fra fanding fende ; 
Hou may thou than be in thi youthe 
Wit fleyfly fanding fa uncouthe. 
Thufgat fpac this ermyt him tille, 
To ger him fchaw his thohtes ille ; 
And Teocifl afked mercye. 
And faid, lef fader fua am I 
Sua hard fandede witt licherye, 
That my fleys may I noht chiiftye. 
This ermyt kend him than hou he 
Suld flithe igain Satanas be ; 
And quen this monc was broht in ftate, 
This ermyt toe hamward the gate, 



Dom, tiii. post Oct. Epiph. 151 

And fon tharefter eft he fawe 
The Fend tilward that abbay draw ; 
And fone efter com he igain, 
And this ermyt bigan to frain 
At Satenas, hou he hafd fpedde, 
And he anfuered als he war medde, 
And faid, alias and wailewaye 
That euer I com at yon abbaye, 
For in na chafFar may I winne, 
Of tha lurdanes that won tharinne, 
For likes nan of thaim my play, 
Bot alle thar kache me away. 
In thaim part may I haf nan, 
For al the craftes that I kan, 
For Teocift that me was left, 
Es nou ful fchamli fra me reft ; 
To me was he won to be bain, 
Nou es he flitheft me igain, 
Forthi I fe that me no chare, 
Til ward yon abbay founde mare. 

This ermit lofad Godde almihtye. 

That mad the Fendes craft emptye. 
This tal ful openly us fchawes 
Quat fed of helle the Fend fawes. 
Pray we forthi that Godd us reede, 
And child us fra the Fendes feede. 



152 Dom. an. post Oct. Epiph, 

That he no haf miht us to tele 
With gaftly dranc and wit darnele. 
For fed that Satan in man fawes, 
Thair fleys til lull and liking drawes. 
Our Lauerd fchild us fra that fede, 
And len us fa our lif to lede, 
That we may gaftii froyt forthe bring, 
On domefday bifor our king, 
That wic men fra god fal fchille, 
And cal the god men him tille, 
And fend the wik to tac thair hire, 
For thair froit tille helle fire ; 
Bot god men fal Crifl than lede, 
Til hefenes blis to tak thar mede. 
Our Lauerd Jefus thider us bring, 
Amen, amen, we alle fing. 

Amen. 




Ett ^nxiUcaiionem iSeate M^vie^ gecuntium iLucam. 

^o^tquam tmpleti i^unt UteS purgacioni^ iHaric flecimtJum 
legem Plou^gi), tulerunt ilium in ^truslalem, ut ^i^tereat eiim 
JBomino, slicut sjcriptum t^t in lege IBomini : (I^uia omue masi* 
culinum atJapcncn^ hjuluam, Sanctum iBomiiio. tt cetera. 




N hali boc find we 
That this dai hafes names thre ; 
The firfl es cald Maries clenfing, 
The tother es cald Criftes meeting, 
The thrid es cald CandelmeiTe day, 
Als lawed folc it calles ay. 
Candel that we to kirc bring 
Bitakenes Jefu Crifl our king ; 
For Criit was offered als to daye, 
Als I you fal nou fon faye. 
And riht als ilke man mai fe 
In brinnand candel thinges thre, 
That es at fay, wax, wee, and liht, 
Sua es in Crifl goddhed and miht, 



154 In Purif. Beate Marie, 

And tharto fawel and bodie, 
That er bifened apertelye 
Bi candel, quar in we mai fe 
Wax, wee, liht, that er thinges thre. 
For riht als candel haues liht, 
Sua haued Crifl in him Goddes miht ; 
For liht bitakenis his goddhede, 
Als we ful oft in bokes rede ; 
Rob wee that in wax loken efle, 
Grilles fawel bitaken effe, 
That was loken and hidde in fleys, 
For fleys es brokel als wax, and neys. 
We ber to dai thoru this refoun, 
Our candel in proceffioune, 
And bi this refoun es wel fene 
That this nam Gandelmes wil mene. 
The other nam als ar faid I, 
Es cald clenfing of our Lefdye, 
And thohquethir hafd fcho na mifter 
To be clenfed on flic maner, 
Bot for fcho wald forfiUe the lawe, 
And mekenes in hir dedes fchawe, 
Forthi com fcho this dai to do 
For hir clenflng that felle tharto. 
For it was comanded in the law 
That wif fra kirc hir fold witdraw, 



In Purif. Beate Marie. 155 



The faurty dayes al bidene, 
Sua lang was fcho halden unclen, 
Efter that fcho deliuered ware 
Of knaf child, and thanne ful yare 
Quen faurty dawes wer broht til ende, 
Than fold fcho to the tempel wende 
Wit hir child, and hir hofbande, 
To mak thar for this child ofFerande ; 
And yef thaie riht riche men ware, 
Thai fuld offer a lamb riht thare, 
Yef thai war pouer, than fuld thay 
Offer opon this clenfmg day 
Tua turteles, or tua douf briddes, 
Als Godd in Moyfes law biddes ; 
And for Criil com noht for to fpille 
The aide lawe, bot it fulfille, 
Forthi com his moder to day, 
To do that fel to Jowes lay. 
And thoru refoun of this thing, 
Es this dai cald Maryes clenfmg. 

Nou haf we herd quar for and qui 
This fed hatte clenfmg of Mary. 
The firft nam es Candelmelfe, 
The tother Maryes clenfmg effe, 
The thred Crifles meting es cald, 
Als our godfpel to dai us tald. 



156 In Purif. Beate Marie. 

It lais hou Crifl als this [day] mette 

Wit tua men, that him comly grette, 

The tan was man, the tother wif, 

Bot bathe thai ledde ful hali lif : 

For he was prefl in Jowes laye, 

And fcho lele widow many daye ;' 

And Simeon hiht the carmanne, 

And the womman was cald dam Anne, 

Scho wifl thoru gafl of prophecye, 

That Godd fuld fend his fon in hye, 

Mankind nede for to do, 

And Grilles com lang habad fcho ; 

And als to day mett fcho wit Grift, 

And fpac of him thing that fcho wift, 

Hou he fuld man on rod bye, 

For fcho wift that thoru prophecye. 

And Symeon the preft alfua. 

Toe Jefus in his armis tua. 

And faid, Lauerd, nou mai I deye, 

For I fe the wit flcyfly eye ; 

I fe that I ber in my hande 

Goddes awen fon and his fand, 

That ftithe igain the Fend fal ftand, 

And les mankind out of his band. 

Sain Symeon flic wordes faid, 

uen Grift was in his armes layd. 



/^ 



In Purif. Beate Marie. 157 

For wel lang thar bifor he wift, 
That him bihoued fe Jefu Crifl; 
The hali gafl haued warned him 
That he fuld dey noht ar that tim, 
That he hauid wit his eyen fen 
This blized barn of quaim I men. 
Forthi he faid, quen I him feye, 
Lauerd in pes nou mai I dey, 
For thou haues don that thou me hiht, 
And fchued the felf to mi fiht, 
I fe that thou mankind haues tan, 
And for mankind bicomen man. 

Nou fe ye that thoru refoun 

That Crift mett witt fain Symeoun, 
And withe dam Anne of quaim I tald. 
This dai es Crifles meting cald ; 
For in the tempel bathe mett thaye, 
With Crift and Marye als this daye. 

Nou hop I that ye al fe 

Hou this feft hauis names thre. 
The firft nam es Candelmeife, 
The tother Maryes clenfmg eife, 
The thred nam als Ic haf talde, 
Es Criftes meting gratheli cald, 
In tempele firft offered was he, 
And fithen on the rod tre. 



158 In Purif. Beate Marie, 

And ilke day in preftes hand, 
May we fe Crifl: be mad ofFerand. 
Thus was Crifl oiFered for our hele, 
Forthi bird us be til him lele, 
Of us felf bird us ofFerand mak, 
Quen we for his luf fafl and wak, 
For than pin we our bodye, 
With torfir and with martyrye. 
We offer us feluen til Jefus, 
That offered him feluen for us ; 
For offered for us al was he, 
(^en he for us deyed on tre. 

Yet wil I you on Englis faye, 
Quat was offered for Crifl to daye. 
We find that Jofep and Marye 
War bathe pouer, and forthie 
Offered thai for Crifl Mari fon 
Slic thing als pouer men war won. 
Tua turteles, als I haf you tald, 
Or tua douf briddes yef thai wald j 
And I wil tel you forthie, 
Quat thir foules menes gaflelye. 
In thir tua fules may we fe 
Bathe mildenes and charite ; 
For douf a ful mec fuel es, 
And bitakenes riht mildenes. 



In Purif. Beate Marie, 159 

And bi the turtel douf may we 
Ful rilit underfliand charite ; 
For yef the turtel tin hir mak, 
Neuer mar wil fcho other thac ; 
Forthi bi hir mai byfend be 
Riht clen lif and charite. 

Fand we forthi fua for to lif, 

That we mai Godd god offerand gif, 
Of chaftite and mildnes, 
That in thir foules bifend es. 
We offer turtel douf gafllye, 
Quen [we] feyht igain licherye, 
And quen we hald our hert fra wreth, 
And hafliwes, and brother wreth, 
And loues our brether inwardlye, 
We offer doufes gaililye. 

We may als by thir fouls tuinne, 

Underfland forue for our fmne ; 
For bathe thir foules haues crowding 
Infled of fang, and ftille murning. 
And bitakenes that fmful man, 
That fchilwifnes and infyt can, 
Suld of thir fules bifenes take. 
To murne for his fm and fake. 
For better es that man her murne. 
Than for his fm til helle turne. 



i6o In Purif. Beate Marie. 

Nou underfland ye I wene 
Quat the feft of to daye wil mene. 
jSarrado. A tal of this fefl haf I herd, 

Hougat it of a widou ferd, 
That lufd our Lefdi fa welle, 
That fcho gert mac hir a chapele ; 
And ilke day deuotely. 
Herd fcho melTe of our Lefdye. 
Fel auntour that hir preft was gan 
His erand, and mefle haued fcho nan, 
And com this Candelmeife fefle, 
And fcho wald haf als wif honefle 
Hir meife, and for fcho moht get nan, 
Scho was a ful forful womman. 
In hir chapele fcho mad prayer, 
And fel on flep bifor the auter, 
And als fcho lay on flep, hir thoht 
That fcho in til a kyrc was broht, 
And faw com gret compaynye 
Of fair maidenes wit a lefedye, 
And al thai fette on raw ful rathe, 
And aid men and yong bathe 
Com efter thaim. and fette thaim bye, 
And a clerc broht cerges in heye, 
And euerilkan gaf he an, 
And an toe this flepand womman ; 



In Purif, Beate Marie, 



i6i 



An tua clerkes fcho faw comande 

In furplices wit ferges berande, 

And efter thaim reuefled rathe, 

Com fuddeken and deken bathe, 

And Crifl him feluen com thar neft, 

Reuefled als a mefle prefl. 

Thai yod til auter gainli graythede, 

And priue prayer thair thai fayde, 

And clerkes fon bigan the meffe, 

Als coflom in hali kirk effe ; 

And quen thai com til thair ofFerande, 

This leuedy yed with ferge in hande, 

And ofered firil als comly quene. 

And efter hir other bidene. 

This wif fatte ay ftille, als hir thoht, 

For offer hir candel wald fcho noht. 

The prefl abade bifor the auter, 

Bot fcho no wald noht cum him ner. 

And word til hir fend our Leuedy, 

And faid that fcho did vilanye 

To ger the prell bide hir fa lang, 

And bad fcho fuld ris and gang, 

And offer hir ferge als other had don„ 

And fcho anfuerd and faid fon, 

Wei moht the prefh his meffe forthe fmg, 

My candel wil I noht him bring, 



62 In Purif, Beate Marie, 



Bot ga and fay til my Lefdye, 

That Godd hauis fend me, hald wil I. 

And igain yod this meffager, 

And tald his Leuedy hir anfwer. 

His Leuedi bad him fuithe ga, 

And tac the ferge with fteece hir fra, 

Yef fcho wald noht with god it yeld. 

Bot quen he com, faft fcho it held. 

For al that he moht prai and fay, 

Feitheli fcho hir candel held aye. 

And he raht til hir at the laile 

And droh the ferge, and fcho held faft. 

This candel brae bituix thaim tua, 

And fcho ftec of hir flep riht fua, 

And fand a tronchoun redy broken. 

And faft in bathe hir hendes loken. 

Hir thoht thar of ful gret ferlye. 

And thanked Godd and our Lefdye, 

That wald fuilc priuete hir fchawe. 

And ger men it with taken knaw. 

For graithe takening was that tronchoun. 

Of hir ferlic avifion. 

This tronchoun for relic fcho held 

Al hir lif, with worfchip and held. 

And it dos yet, als find we tald, 

Ful fair mirakeles mani fiild. 



In Purif. Beate Marie, 16 

Bi this fchort tal, als thine me, 

Mai we our Lefdyes confort fe, 
That wald profe this wifes wille, 
And hir langing wit joy fulfille, 
And noht allan in heuen rike, 
Bot her in erthe with fair ferlic ; 
For fair ferlic was this tronchoun, 
That fcho gatte wit deuotyoun. 

Yet wil we fpec of our Lefdye, 

That bar that barn of hir bodye, 
That was offered als him feluen wald 
On thrinne wis, als Ic haf tald. 
Of his offering to day fpec we, 
For als to day offered was he 
In temp el, and fithen on rode, 
Thar he for our fak fched his blode ; 
And on the thred wife es he 
Offered at meiTe, als we mai fe, 
Forthi me thine that god it es, 
To fpek fum thing of hir godnes, 
That bar of hir bodi that brith. 
That broht mankind til menflc and mirht, 

Mary mild and maiden clene, 

Es Goddes moder of quaim I mene, 
And bathe of heuen and erthe quen. 
And helpes fmful men biden ; 



J 



J 64 In Pur if, Beate Marie, 

Bot namlic helpes fcho tha. 
That turnes noht thair lof hir fra, 
Bot menlkes hir on al thair wifle 
And er fyfel in hir feruyfe. 
Bot fcho es moder of mercye, 
And til fmful men ay redye. 
Scho fayles neuer mar in nede, 
That mai we fe bi many dede 
That fcho dos oft for fmful man, 
That haues igain hir fon miflan. 
For do man neuer fa gret fmne, 
And he haf wil his fmne to blin, 
And alk hir holp riht inwardlye, 
He may be fiker of mercye. 
That mai ye fe bi a lefdy, 
That was abbes of a nunrye ; 
fian-afio. Bot als fcho for apon a day 

About nedes of hir abbay, 
In cloutes bi the gate fcho fande 
A yong mayden child fuelande. 
Scho haued pyte of this funding, 
And gert it til liir nunry bring, 
And gert it be ful gaynli gette. 
And fithen til boc fcho it fett. 
And mad hir nunne in that nunrye, 
And hi fed liir ful inwardlye ; 



In Purif. Beate Marie. 165 



For fcho lufed als god womman 

Hir dohteris gailely euerilkan, 

And fa wel order lufed fcho, 

That na milTe moht hir dohteris do, 

That fcho no chaftid thaim in hye, 

And gert thaim lef thair folie. 

And god wimmen lufed hir forthie, 

And foles hated hir dedelye. 

And at hir haued the Fend envoye, 

And fanded hir ful ithenlye, 

Bot niht and day he was byfye 

To kindel lufl in hir bodye, 

And at the lafl in licherye 

He gert hir fal ful wrethelye. 

For hir fpenfe knew hir fleyfleye. 

And hir wamb wex gret in hye, 

Bot fair fcho bar hir noht forthye, 

Als wimmen can that dos folye. 

Scho umthoht hir niht and daye, 

Quaim fcho moht bed hir confayl fay ; 

And hir thoht wele that befl moht fcho 

Hir dern dede til hir undo, 

Quaim fcho hafd [fra] funding fedde, 

And fair in nunne wede [hyr] cledde ; 

For fcho was halden til hir maft, 

To be til hir lele and fledefaft. 



66 In Purif. Beate Marie. 

Scho tald this nunne ful priuelye, 
And faid til hir, dohter mercye, 
Ic haf a derne priuete, 
To fchew bytuixe me and the, 
Bot dede war me leuer to be, 
Than thou of my dede melded me. 
For yef thou thar of me melde, 
Ic haf tinte werdes menfc and belde. 

This nune anfuerd and faid, leuedye, 
For al this werld gold wald I 
Do thing that war igaines the ; 
Forthi, lefedy, thou telle me 
Wit outen dout thi priuete. 
For than mai thou prof my leute ; 
Schew baldely thi wil to me, 
For fiker mai thou of me be. 

This abbes trowed wele hir fawe, 
And hir fmne fcho gan hir fchaw. 
And faid, lef dohter, me es wa, 
For gret with child riht now I ga. 
This nunne anfuerd and faid, lefdye. 
Be thou for this thing noht farye, 
For wel I fal thi confayl hele. 
And do wit the als dohter lele. 
For quen the childe es born, fal I 
Do it of daw fa priuely. 



In Purif. Beate Marie. 167 

That na wiht fal the fqueling here, 

And delf it fithen in our herbere. . 
This abbes trowed hir ful wele, 
And wend that fcho war treu als ftele. 

Bot qua fa lefes fra hinging 

Thef, or bringes up funding, 

Of nauther getes he menfc ne mede, 

No focour quen he hauis nede. 

For that was fen ful openlye 

In this funding, that hir leuedye 

Wreyed til the bifchop fone, 

And tald him al quat fcho hauid don. 

And qua was wrathe bot that bifchop, 

For of this abbes haued he hop, 

That fcho haued ben a god womman, 

And forthoht that fcho hauid miilan. 

Hir dohteres herd of hir folye. 

And fum war gladd and fum farye ; 

For fole wimmen war ful fain 

That thai haued chefoun hir igain. 

And wit thair letteres prayed thaye, 

[That the byfchop fuld fette a daye 

To proue thair abbas of hyr play. 

That fcho myght noght agayn fay. 

The day was fette, the tyme come neght 

That this abbas fuld paynes dreght, 



i68 In Purif, Beate Marie. 



And be delyuer of hir chylde, 
Scho made hyr mane to Mary myld. 
That nyght in hyr fchapelle fcho woke, 
That wyfes fuld on the morne hyr loke ; 
For the byfchoppe agaynes the raome 
Somonde the wyfes hym beforne, 
That him fuld all the foth fay, 
Wehedyr this abbas war wyfe ore may ; 
And forthi was this abbas ferde, 
When fcho this forowfull tydans herd. 
Scho gret full far on owre Lady, 
And ailced hyr helpe and mercy. 
When fcho was wery of hyr prayer, 
Scho fell on flepe before the auter, 
And to hyr come fonne our Lady, 
And fnybed hyr fonne of hyr foly. 
And on hyr wambe fcho layd hyr hande, 
And this abbas was all flepand 
Delyuer of a fayr knawe chylde. 
That fonne was gude man and mylde. 
Our Lady tuk this chylde all warme, 
And layd it in a aungell arm, 
And bad hym ber this chyld ryght tyte 
Opon hyr halfe to a armyte, 
That woned fra thine myles feuen, 
And the chylde name gan fclio neuen , 



In Purif. Beate Marie. 169 

And fayd, byd hym the childe baptize, 
And bryng it up as gud nurys. 
When this was fayd, fcho wyte away, 
And this abbas woke thar to day, 
And on hyr bar kneys fcho hyr fette. 
And fwetly our Lady fcho grete , 
And fayd, Lady, I thanke it the, 
Fore well has thou delyuered me. 
And in that chap ell all that nyght 
Scho loued our Lady to day lyght. 
The byfchoppe come wit his clergy 
Opon the morne to that nunry. 
To gyfe ryght lawfull jugement 
Of this abbas that was fa fchent ; 
Bot he gart wyfes noght forethi, 
Luke aldyr fryfte hyr body. 
And gart them fwer that thai fuld fay 
Whethyr thai fand hyr wyfe or may ; 
And when thai had hyr body fenne, 
Scho femed than mayden clene, 
And than the byfchoppe was ful tene 
To thas nonnes all bydene. 
On that nune that talde hym this tale. 
And bad fcho fulde be brynde in bale, 
Als wyked womane that wykedly 
Had lyed fa opon hyr lauedy. 



This abbas had of hyr grete pyte, 
That fcho for hyr fuld dampned be, 
And talde the byfchoppe full pryuely 
The fothe, all how that our Lauedy 
Deluyerd hyr and made hyr qwyte, 
And fent hyr fonne to a ermyte, 
To nurryfch it, and to fette it to lar. 
The byfehoppe fwethly ryght thar 
AiToyld hyre, and then loued mar. 
And euer he thanked Mary, 
That unto fynfull es ay redy. 
To this ermyte he fent hys fande, 
And thar hyr chylde in credyll fande ; 
And when it was of feuen sere, 
The bifchope made it gude fcholere ; 
And when this byfchoppe was dede, 
This clerke was bifchoppe in hys flede. 
Be this tale may we gaflely fe, 
That no man in dyfpayr thar be, 
That na fynfull fchamed thar be, 
Haue thai done neuer fwilke foly, 
If they wyll call on oure Lauedy. 
Forethi if we in fynne fall, 
I rede that opone hyr we call. 
That fcho purchayfTe gras us fone to ryfe, 
And fythen to duelle in hyr feruyife, 



In Purif. Beate Marie, 



'71 



Ewyr mar to our lyues ende, 
And fyker may we be to wende, 
Unto that court thare fcho es qwene, 
Thider fcho bryng us all bydenne.] 

Amen, 




Notes. 

\Cott. MS.y Cottonian MS., Vefp. A. III. ; C. MS., Cambridge MS., 
G. 9 V. 31 ; J/h. MS., Afhmolean MS., No. 42 ; JS., Anglo- 
Saxon ; AN., Anglo-Norman •, Dan., Danifh •, N. or ON., Norfe, 
or Old Norfe -, PL D., Plat-Dutch ; Scot., Old Scottifh.] 



Page xii., line 17, 7nel — mingle-, line 19, dufit — the Cott. MS. reads 
dump ; line 20, bal — fire. 

Page xiii., line 1 8, welk — pr. of walk, AS. weallian — to go ; line 19, 
strete, a road ; line 20, ivmnifur — the Cott. MS. reads unmejjur, infati- 
able; line 35, Tuine — to separate-, line 38, ivere — doubt, uncertainty. 

Page xiv., line \6jfor mikel hafto mot — for I have much to fay ; line 
17, hot that 171 hertis ivo hord es reji — the Cott. MS. reads, hot that in hir 
hord esfejl; line 1 8, nedwais — of neceility ; line 19, bal — evil ; line 37, 
suink — labour; line 33, tore — the Cott. MS. reads ture. 

Page XV., line 19, toh — the Cott. MS. reads togh ; line 21, louing — - 
praifmg ; line 22, bet — to help, or make better ; line 27, nik wit nai — 
to deny -, line 32, ^en I ma mining of that mild — when I make mention 
of that gentle one. 

Page xvi., line 7, bird — a maiden, a term of endearment ; line 25, 



i 174 NOTES. 



07ian — anon ; line 29, yar — readily, AS. gearo ; line 34, heidn — 
avenged, Dan. hevne, ON. hefna ; line 36, forthoht — forefaw, or 
fulpefted ; line '^y , fchofiid ; the Cott. MS. re3.ds fcund him; line 39, 
fauders — Ibldiers. 

Page xvii., line '^.fand — perfon fent, meflenger ; line 8, Elis — the Cott. 
MS. reads Elfis ; line 9, felcutheli hend — uncommonly courteous ; line 
II, mer — miftake, blunder; line 1 5, Ah man ivas led — the Cott. MS. 
reads, A lerd man mikel tare ; line 18, /c ^ift<^^ ^^de — to offer as gifts ; 
line 19, mijler — AN. need ; line 22, sp'ir — inquire ; line 25, hir — 
breeze ; line 31, fer kin — various kinds, fer or feer, various, different ; 
line 35, ojl — hoil. 

Page xviii., line 8, heft — struck ; line II, rethenes — AS. fierceness -, 
line 12, reiuthe — for row ; line 1 3, iinride — AS. violently ; line 1 5, 
hremli — AS. brem, fierce ; line 20, For thaim ivar tieuer in perlir ar — 
the Cott. MS. reads, For thai ivar neuer in par el mar ; line 2() , forfiuonkin 
— from forfwink, to overwork, or weary one's felf with work ; line 30, 
quiliim — the Cott. MS. reads quelm, overwhelmed -, line 40, bileft — from 
bileve, to leave or remain ; line 41, hot of bale — remedy of evil. 

Page xix., line '^^ fdk — or flik, fuch ; line 6, kid — pr. of kithe, to 
make known ; line 1 1, med — ^glad ; line 27, lithe — to comfort ; line 33, 
pru — profit, advantage ; line 38, ethe — eafy. 

Page XX., line 2, Leued fchen — Lady bright; line 2'j^farnet — pro- 
bably, crew, AS. faru, a company ; line 38, Afettws — AS. aletnys, a 
regulation ; line 41, i/ifedisfil — in many places. 

Page xxi., line 4, /// lede — literally ** in language," an expreflion com- 
mon in ancient poems, and equi\alent to " I tell you," see Jamiefon's 
Scot. Di6t., sub voce ''leid ;" line l^yrekin — recount, reckon ; line 23, 
fetlis — AS. feats ; line 24, onferrum — from afar ; line 28, driy:e — lord, 
generally applied to Jeibs Chrifl: ; line 38, mijlim — mis-time ; forfarne — 
loll, ruined. 

Page 1, line 2, Anfald — AS. anfcald, one fold ; line 4, A God a 



NOTES. 175 



miht in perfons Hi — one God one power in three perfons ; line 8, ger — 
to caufe, N. giora ; line lo, loken in thi nvelding — included in thy govern- 
ment, loc AS. an inclofure ; welding, AS. wealdan, to govern, to wield , 
line 15, gaft of fchilivifnes — fpirit of difcrimination. 

Page 2, line 3, red — or rad, afraid ; line 4, ivrenh — a trick, AS. 
wrence ; the C. MS. reads lurafihys ; line 6, quantis — AN. cunning , 
line 8, hiht — promifed ; line 1 1, bird — it behoves, N. byrjar, Dan. bor ; 
line 14, rode — or rood, AS. a crofs -, line 15, utikind — unnatural ; line 
185 loj — ^praife ; line 24, horde — AS. flore, treafure ; line 26, for an 
read au — ought ; the C. MS. reads aght. 

Page 3? liiie 6, /// god oys — in good ufe ; line 17, for Godes nvifdom, 
re2id. god es ivifdom ; line 1 9, pouert — poverty ; line 23, laued men — lay- 
men, laued from AS. leode, lend, the people. 

Page 4, line 4, ivonand — AS. wunnian, to dwell ; line 7, almous — 
charity ; line lo, yeme — or %eme, to take care of, or protect ; line 1 3, 
fcathe — harm, AS. fceSan ; line 22 ^feer fanes — various fayings. 

Page 5, line 3, undo — expound ; line 6, bede — prayer, AS. ; line 
13, men/kelte — gracioufly, AS. mennifc, human ; line 20, ert — AN. to 
conftrain. 

Page 6, line ^, fcendfchipe — defl:ru6fion, AS. fcenan, to deflroy ; line 
5, halive — the faints ; line 6, til fauel hel — to falvation of the foul, the 
C. MS. reads, tofauefra helle. 

Page 7, line I, fulthe — fulnefs, AS. fulS ; line 4, belde — protection ; 
fleis and felle — flefh and fkin ; leftng — falfehood, AS. leas ; line 16, 
gabbid — deluded, AS. gabban. 

Page 8, line 6, lefje — releafe. 

Page 9, line 1 1 , graithe — prepare. 

Page 10, line 17, luod hony — wild honey ; line 1 9, a flither gom — a 
jftronger man — gom from AS. guma, a man. 

Page II, line II, biging — AS. byggan, to build; line 19, der- 
luorthines — honour, AS. deorwur^. 

Page 12, line l^, fchop — created, AS. fcyppan ; line 14, dubbed — 



176 NOTES. 



AS. dubbaii, to make ; line 25, fe/id — N. fela, to conceal , line 26, 
te/ui — AS. taelan, to mock or cheat. 

Page 13, line 3, iviterlye — certainly ; line ^,fa?ided — tried, from AS. 
fandian, to try or to tempt; ithenlye — ^busily, Scot, ithand, ythen, eident ; 
line 10, To harl him in til his balye — to entangle or drag him into his 
dominions ; balye fometimes means ftewardfhip, and the expreflion, 
When I am oute of my baly, or ilewardfhip, occurs in the C. MS. in 
reference to the parable of the unjuft fteward ; linfe 12, other are — others 
before ; the C. MS. reads ivit oiitentar — with foreigners. 

Page 14, line 8, ro — peace, N. ro ; line lo, bette — made better. 
Page 15, line 12, lithe — hear, Dan. lyde ; line 13, ivede — to go mad, 
AS. wedan ; line 17, rijly — frequently, the C. MS. reads ryuely ; line 
25, reived — AS. hreowan, to repent. 

Page 16, line 2, ivanhop — despair, want of hope ; line 4, blin — ceafe ; 
mefel — a leper. 

Page 17, line 2, grede — AS. graedan, to cry out ; line 3, wes — 

wafhed ; line 4, eyen — pi. of eye, line 7, blotned — from blote, to dry, 

hence the well known word " bloater," a herring dried in fmoke ; 

' fmerjles — AS. fmerels, ointment ; line 10, fmer — to anoint, AS. fme- 

rian , gent — gentle; line 20, Jiehe — to approach; line 23, yem — AS. 

I heed. 

Page 18, line 3, fele — many, AS. feala ; line 10, Jlez — the C. MS. 
rciid^ Jlryue. 
I Page 19, line 20, win — -joy, AS. wyn ; line 25, blaji oj bem — blafl: 

I of trumpet ; bem, from AS. heme ; line 26, dem — judge. 

Page 20, line I, quern — agreeable, AS. cweman ; line 2, ivih — 
wicked ; line ^.jftern — AS. flyman, to banifh ; line I'j^famen — together. 
I Page 21, line 8, luandreth — ON. vandraedi, forrow ; ten — AS. teona, 

j harm ; line 9, dttin — AS. dwinan, to pine, or wafle away ; line lo, 
I baret — trouble, N. baratta ; line 1 1 , luerd — world ; rednes — or radnes, 
terror, AS. hr6(S ; line 12, uglines — fear, difmay ; line l^^Jlcuin — AS. 
! lief en, noifc. 



NOTES. ^77 



Page 22, line 2, maiftri — fuperiority ; poufte — AN. power ; line 5, 
biing — redemption ; line 20, A^^ 7nai na miht fordo 7ie felle — no power 
may deftroy or fubvert. 

Page 23, line 24, Vmr'ic — kingdom; line 10, grlfe — frighten, AS. 
a-gryfan , line 13, hreu — brew; line 14, gleu — mirth, glee ; line 15, ivers 
— wars ; line 16, derf- — N. diarfr, flrongly, deres — injures, AS. derian ; 
line 20, That hers of bar et be fid irk — the C. MS. reads. That aght of baret 
befulyrk; line 25, haht — or aght, pofTeflions ; line 26, Jlures — ft rife, 
N. Jftyr. 

Page 24, line 17, thufgat — or thus-gates, AS., in this manner; line 
l^.fcurn — the C. MS. xe2idiS fchurfie. 

Page 25, line II, Sain Jerom telles, &c. — Several verfions of thefe 
fifteen figns which were fuppofed to precede the day of Judgment will 
be found, along with an interelfing note, in the " Chefter Myfteries,'' 
edited for the Shakefpeare Society by Thomas Wright, Efq. (vol. ii., 
pp. 147 and 219). No copy of the original is to be found, however, 
in the Benediftine edition of Jerome's works, although nearly all the 
verfions refer to Jerome as having found them in fome Hebrew MS. 
In the part of the '' Curfor Mundi" contained in the MS. from which 
this volume is printed, and alluded to in the Introduftion, the following 
lines occur : — 

" Als Jeromme, diat well man trowis, 
Telles he fand in the bok of Juwis." 

The verfion of Jerome will therefore probably be found in fome of 
his writings deemed Ipurious by the editors of his works, and confe- 
quently omitted in the printed editions. 

It is interefting here to remark, that the famous Scottifh poet. Sir 
David Lyndfay, feems to have been familiar with this treatife of Jerome, 
and in his " Monarchie, or ane dialog betwix Experience and ane 
Courteour," written about the year 1550, he gives an account of thefe 
fifteen figns in Scottifh verfe. The following extracts (Chalmers' ed., 



vol. iii., pp. 131 and 1 36) (how the fimilarity between the verfion of 
Lyndlay and that gken hi the text : — 

And mony toknis dois appeir, 
As efter Ichortlye thow Jail heir, 
How that Sanft Jerome doith indyte, 
That he lies red, in Hebrew wryte, 
Of fyftene fignis, in fpeciall. 
Afore that jugement generall : 
Off fum of tliame I tak na cure,* 
Quhilk I fynd noclit, in tlie Scripture. 
Ane part of tliame, thocht I declare, 
Firfl, will I, to tlie Scripture, fare. 
Clirift fay is, afore that day of dome, 
Thare fal be fignis in fonne, and mone. 
The fonne fall hyde his bemis bricht, 
Sa tliat the mone fall geve na licht, 
Sterris, be mennis jugement. 
Sail fall furtli of the firmament : 

■Y: -X- -X- -X- 

The borribyll foundis of tbe fey. 
The pepill fall perturbe, and fley ; ^ 
Jerome fay is, it fall ryfe on liicht, 
Abone montanis to mennis ficlit, 
Bot it fall nocht fpred over the land, 
Bot lyke ane wall evin ftraucht upftand ; 
Syne fattill doun agane fa law. 
That na man fiill the watter knaw , 
Greit qnahlis fall rummeis, rout, and rair,- 
Quhofe found redound fall in the air : 
All fifchc, and monflouris, marvellous. 
Sail cry, with Ibundis odious. 
That men, fall widder on the cird,^ 
And weping, wary fall their weird,"* 
With lowde allace ! and wella\\'ay ! 
That ever thay baid^ to fe that day, 
And fpeciallye thofe, that dwelland be, 
Apone the coftis of the fee : 

^ P'righten. 2 Xofs, bellow, and roar. ^ Wither on the earth ! 

* Shall curfe their deftiny. ^ Staid. 



NOTES. 



179 



Richt la, as San6t Jerome concludis. 

Sail be lene ferleis/ in the fludis, 

The fey, with moving marvellous. 

Sail byrn, with flammis furious ; 

Richt fa fall byrn fontane, and flude. 

All herbe, and tre, fall fweit lyke blude, 

Fowlis fall fall furth of the air, 

Wylde beiftis to the plane repair, 

And in thair maner mak greit mone, 

Gowland with mony griflye grone.^ 

The bodeis of deid creaturis 

Appeir fall on thair fepulturis ; 

Than fall baith men, wenien, and bairnis, 

Cum crepand furtli of how ^ cavernis, 

Quliare thay for dreid wer hid afore. 

With lich, and fob, and hartis fore ; 

Wandring about, as thay war w^ode,* 

Effamifchit, for fait of fude ; 

None may mak utheris comforting, 

Bot, dule for dule, and lamenting 

Qahat may thay do bot weip, and wonder, 

Quhen thay fe roches fchaik, in fchounder. 

Throw trimlyng of the eirth, and quaiking : 

Of forrow, than, fal be na flaiking,^ 

Quha that bene levand, in thole dayis. 

May tell of terribill affrayis : 

Thair riches, rentis, nor treffour. 

That tyme, fall do thame fmall plefour ; 

Bot, quhen fie wonderis dois appeir. 

Men may be lure, the day drawis neir : 

That jufte men pas fall to the glore, 

Injufi:e to pane for ever more. 



mer- 



hiie 16, kin — AS. fwell ; line 17,^/?/— or felle, a hill; line 25, 
Juine and qualle — dolphin or porpoile, and whale. 

Page 26, line I, her — AS. noife ; line 22, afife — judgment ; line 23, 
at ajchift — the C. MS. reads at ajtght ; line 26, rathe — fpeedily. 



1 Wonders. ^ Howling with many a terrible groan. ^ Hollow. 

* Wode ; mad ; as in Wiclif and Chaucer. ^ Siaiking ; quenching. 



i8o NOTES. 



Page 27, line 16 [herbis] — the MS. reads i/Iis — which ieems a mil- 
take ; line 17, que dtruef edes — probably quia would be a better reading. 

Page 28, line '^, JIabunt — after this word a line ieems necefTary to 
complete both the lenie and the rhyme. The Rev. Mr Power has 
lliggefted the following line as fuitable for the purpofe : — 

"■ Olfa iterumque iuis fe carnibus alfociabunt."' 

line 17, leuer — rather. 

Page 29, line ^^ feres — companions, AS. fera -, felle — cruel, AS. fell, 
line 7, in pines ivelle — rage in pain ; nvelle^ AS. weallan, to boil or rage , 
ligges- — lies, AS. liggan ; line 1 8, nejen — ON. nefna, to name ; line 25, 
A blak munk, &c. — This fmgular fpiritualiftic tale feems to have been 
one of the popular ftories current in England at an early period. Roger 
ofWendover inferts in his Chronicle (a.d. 1072) a tale of a fimilar 
chara6ler, and ftates that the circumftances occurred at Nantes about 
that time. It will be found in Dr Giles' Tranllation (Bohn's ed. vol. i. 
p. 339) under the heading *' DigreiTion concerning the two Confederate 
Priefts ;" line 27, e?ifermer — probably the Infirmarius of the Abbey, the 
C. MS. reads, luas in afarmory. 

Page 30, line 6, lujreden — AS. luf-raeden, love, good will j line 7, 
(umtour — perchance ; line 24, hon — ON. bon, prayer. 

Page 31, line 4, lemes — AS. le()ma, bright -, line 1 lyjerly — wonder , 
line 18, drif- — AS. drifan, to drive. 

Page 32, line I, reuel — rule -, faifi Benet — St Benedift , line 3, rapli — 
AS. ipccdily ; line 5, ouerlop — the C. MS. reads overlepe ; line 8, meld — 
to betray, AS. meldian, Dan. melde ; line 22, kele — AS. celan, to grow 
cold ; line 26, ment — pr. of mene, to remember. 

Page 33, line 7, rounge — AN. to gnaw ; line 16, ivonges luete — wet 
cheeks ; wongc, AS. wang, the cheek. 

Page 34, line 8, bote — remedy, AS. but. 

Page 35, line 12, mas me Jul rife — the C. MS. reads, mnk my name 
rf: line 14, /r/a//nderd — AN. iclaunder, (lander j line \ ^y ifand nithe 



NOTES. i8i 



— this expreffion occurs at p. 125, line 2, and again at p. 130, line 5 ; 
heftand, in Scot., fignifies abiding, lafting ; nithe — hatred, AS. nit5 ; the 
C. MS. reads, the Jewes has me nyght. 

Page 36, line 16, trnues — the C. MS. reads thrawesy AS. t^rea, 
punifhment *, line 17, held — incline or bend, AS. healdan, hyldan ; line 
18, wede — to go mad ; line 22, Jliker — AS. fliccerian, to flutter ; the 
C. MS. re^ds Jlyki/. 

Page 37, line S, faridhig — temptation; line II, bifend — AS. by In, 
a pattern or fnnilitude ; line I'T^y glotherers — deceivers, Scot, gludder, to 
cajole ; the C. MS. reads gluteres. 

Page 38, line 2 ^ /nibbed — rebuked; miffe — wickedly; line 19, mired 
— AS. myrran, to obftrudl, hinder; line 21, chefoim — AN. achaifon, 
caufe. 

Page 39, line ii spayed — plealed ; line 17, dele — AS. fliare ; line 26, 
hefd — or heued, the head. 

Page 40, line 7, iveued — part, of weve, to cut olF; line 14, ijurech 
— AS. wracu, revenge, Ipite ; line 15, queller — an executioner, AS. 
cwellan, to kill ; the C. MS. VQ^idiSfquier ; line 23, thurt — need ; line 24, 
luetiid — from weve, to move, fame as wave, wag ; line 26, loued — praifed. 

Page 41, line 23, ivlank — AS. fair, proud ; line 2^,fairhede — beauty. 

Page 43, line 2, ros — praife ; line 7, elles — elfe ; forze — regard ; line 
12 i lates — AS. laetan, to think, regard; hetheli — contemptuoufly, ON. 
ha^ung ; tray — vexation, AS. tregian, to trouble. 

Page 44, line 6,ya — yes ; line 9, hit — for hiht, promifed ; line 2 2, mar 
than a prophet — the MS. reads mar and prophet ; line 26, bihet — promifed. 

Page 45, line $iflum — AN. a river. 

Page 48, line \Q,fundered — feparate. 

Page 49, line 18, ongart — Scot, ogart, arrogance ; line 24, mak — 
companion, equal ; line 26, hendelaic — politenefs ; hend — polite. 

Page 50, line 3, reivli — AS. hreow, cruel ; the C. MS. reads reufully; 
line 7, for nvad — read ivald; line 12, der — to dare ; line 14, nitte — AS. 
nitan, to be ignorant, ON. neita, nita, to deny. 



1 82 NOTES. 



Page 51, line 4, /eiutf — AN. loyalty ; line 23, laythf — loathlbme. 

Page 52, line 5, /eete — to leave ; line 9, charre — to flop, or turn back , 
the C. MS. reads /^-^r; line 26, livelad — the C. MS. reads lyfyng. 

Page 53, line 2, Biixtimnes — AS. bocfum, obedient ; line 5, i.ver'id — 
curfed, AS. werigan, to curfe ; line 6, ivaharmes aye — the C. MS. 
reads, luar forow es ay; line 15) it luas a ffjan. Sec. — This fingular tale is 
an Englifli verfion of one of the French Fabliaux of the 12 th and 
13th centuries, which, as the French language wa*s at that time com- 
mon in England, were freely current in the literature of both nations. 
M. Le Grand, in 1 78 1, publifhed abridgements of thefe Fabliaux in 
4 vols. 8vo, and the 4th vol. of that work contains fuch of them as 
were of a religious nature, or as he terms them, '' Contes devots." In 
that vol. (p. 14) an account of the original of the tale now printed will 
be found, entitled '^ Du Pelerin qui s'origenifa pour I'amour de S. 
Jacques." The pilgrim is there defcribed as " un riche bourgeois de 
Bourgogne," who propofed to fet out on a pilgrimage to the fhrine of 
St James (of Compoftella) in Galicia. Le Grand Ifates that he had feen 
a MS., with miniatures, in which the facrifice of the pilgrim was repre- 
fented in a manner ** tres pittorefque." 

Page ^^, lettc — AS. lettan, to hinder ; line 12, iv'il to — wilt thou ; 
line 2 1 , ivoh — AS. w6h, wrong, blame. 

Page 57, line 8, j^v;; — to proteft ; line l^ywo/ici/i Cliiny — the C. M.S. 
reads inofic in cloyjler ; line 24, a red merk — the C. MS. reads a rede 
ratide inerke. 

Page 58, line 3, rayk — to ramble or deviate; line 4, laik — AS. play. 

Page 59, line l^f/ieUik — quickly ; line 5, lend — to dwell. 

Page 60, line I, Va — the C. MS. reads nun and luamireth ; line 6, 
luiht — CO u r ageo u s . 

Page 61, line 2,Jh'ift — AS. Iciftan, to ordain; line ^i ffre/y — differ- 
ently ; line 5, ivUgern — the C. MS. reads luyld^ in C. MS. Dd.l. I. ivilful : 
line 6, not — or note, bufmel's, employment ; line 23, trouage — in C. MS. 
Irenuagc. 



NOTES. 183 



Page 62, line 8, boriuis — boroughs ; line II, menye — AN. a houfe- 
hold. 

Page 63, line 5, herherie — the C. MS. reads harbargerie, a lodging ; 
line 7, pendize — a fhed ; luaiules — the C. MS. reads luaghles, without 
walls ; line 9, crithe — the C. MS. reads crybe ; line 1 7, And by fore. Sec. — 
This paflage, to page 77, line 14, is fupplied from the C. MS., Gg.V. 31. 

Page 64, line 3, radnes — fear ; line I'^yJIrethe- — AS. ftrsete, a couch, 
or bed. 

Page 66, line 3, troTwe — AN. a throne ; line 9, loutes — AS. liitan, 
to bow, or make obeifance; line 12, unfe/y — unhappy ; line 16, athe — 
each. 

Page 69, line 5, bewy/Ie — or, biwift, place of refort ; line 20, JIayed — 
frightened ; line ^^,pantre — AN. a net or fnare; gylders — fnares. 

Page 70, line 5, Makary — St Macarius the Egyptian. This incident 
in his life will be found related in the Bollandifl " A6la San6lorum," 
torn. I, p. 1007. 

Page 71, line 23, borghes — AS. fecurities. 

Pages 72, line 4, horo'w — fecurity ; line l^,fely — uncommonly. 

Page 74, line 8, ejje — the Afti. MS. reads ees. 

Page 75, line 9, and /aide that he — the C. MS. reads that Jlod him by, 
merely repeating the previous line, the words fupplied are from the 
Afh. MS. ; line 20, nvas ment — the C. MS. reads ivhos myght. 

Page 77, And hethen men, &c. — This paffage to page 83, line 1 8, is 
wanting in the C. MS. Gg. V. 31. It is fupplied by an extraft from 
the Afli. MS. No. 42. 

Page 80, line 24, For allgate bufe me — for by all means it behoves me. 

Page 81, line 24, lethe — enmity, AS. laS. 

Page 82, line 4, Jirothe — to deflroy, AS. flrudan ; fpill — to fpoil, 
AS. fpillan ; line 22, leue — dear, AS. leof; luttbye — or loteby, a lover. 

Page 84, line 2, hepes — to take care, AS. cepan ; line 26, iox forth'i 
— ve^i&forth. 

Page 86, line 12, lethed — comforted. 



1 84 NOTES, 



ouri- 



Page 87, line 2^^ plc'nied — the C. MS. rQa.&s plened, complained. 

Page 88, line 8, fupplied from C. MS. ; line 15, chanded — changed ; 
-dirty, untidy ; the C. MS. reads oiven. 

Page 89, line 2, fivinc — labour; line 1 6, ivain — probably from 
AS. winnan, to ftrive with ; the C. MS. reads ivarne, to deny or 
refufe. 

Page 91, line 4, lumk — evil, AS. wraec ; line lo, fit — or, fite, (hame \ 
line 13, bar a child — the C. MS. reads, a foiikand ch\ld; line 24, thoni 
h'md — by nature. 

Page 93, line 10, namcoiithe — known by name, well known, AS. 
nam-cu6 ; thede — AS. ])eod, a country; line 16, gijl — a lodging; line 
25, for bete — xe2i<ifete. 

Page 96, line I, /;/ vaidye — the C. MS. r e2ids ful cout/y. 

Page 97, line 6, rekelis — 'A. S. recyls, incenfe ; line 25, a Jhidn — the 
C. MS. reads ajlern. 

Page 99, line l^,roches — rocks; line 16, rafes — dead bodies, AS. 
hrsew, Dut. rif, a corpfe. 

Page 10 1, line lo, /«// — for land ; line II, yol fiiht — Yule, or Chrift- 
mas eve; line l^,forfeir — went far. 

Page 102, line 9, holde — faithful, kind. 

Page 103, line lo, hon — AS. hynan, PI. D. honen, to humble; line 
18, /// — or, tille, to entice. 

Page 107, line 4, ivodes — the C. MS. reads duelled; line 5, met he — 
refpeft, AS. mae6. 

Page 108, line 5, latih — law, Scot, lauch ; line 6, luilled — ftrayed, 
Scot, to go wyll, to go aflray. 

Page 109, line 2^^ underloiit — obedient; line 15, thewes — manners, 
moral qualities. 

Page no, line 5, for inmi — read men ; line lo, modi — high minded ; 
line 26, recolage — AN. wantonnefs. 

Page III, line 5, y7</rj- — flcevcs, the C. MS. reads gloues ; line 6, 
hate — hot. 



NOTES. 



'85 



Page 112, line I, ^len halt kirk, &c. — This tale is a veriion of 
the well known account given by Clemens Alexandrinus (Qiiis dives 
lalvetur, c. 42) as a veritable hiflorical tradition, of the Apoftle 
John, when vifiting the Chriftians in Ephefus, reclaiming a young man 
from vicious courfes, and making him a worthy member of the Chriftian 
community. See Neander's Hiftory of the Planting of Chriftianity 
(Bohn's ed., p. 411); line 2,Jlfel — occupied, Dan. fylTel, ON. fyfla, 
occupation, labour; line lo, untheived — ill-mannered; line 12, thro — 
ON. throaz, to grow or increafe ; line 19, hiteche — AS. betecan, to 
entruil: to. 

Page 113, line l6,fcha'wes — thickets. 

Page 115, line 22, plaiues — AS. pleoh, danger. 

Page 117, line 26, That geres man for Godd be red — the C. MS. reads, 
That gars man for good he kydd. 

Page T18, line 3, ryke — AS. a kingdom. 

Page 120, line 5, brukel — brittle; hence frail, weak, delicate; the C. 
MS. reads brufell; line 12, vantrauth — unbelief, line 18, b'lrled — AS. 
birelian, byrlian, to pour ; fchal — or ikalle, a drinking cup or goblet ; 
line 21, feteles — AS. faetels, vefTels ; the C. MS. reads, fex Jiane potes ; 
line 22, cumand — the C. MS. reads cojlome. 

Page 121, line I, dib — dip ; line 22, matirmoyne — the C. MS. reads 
matrimoii. 

Page 123, line 21, lat — the C. MS. reads voice. 

Page 124, line 20, kernes — a loofe ibrt of garment for women, in 
French, chemife. 

Page 125, line 2, eft and nithe and felonny — the C. MS. reads luhyth 
gret enuy andjelon'^. 

Page 126, line 6, jern — a crowd, or company, AS. faru ; line 10, 
luem — blemifh ; line 1 1, hele — AS. helan, to conceal; the C. MS. 
reads y^/^'. 

Page 127, line 23, lepi — or anlepi, fmgle, AS., an-lepig. 

Page 128, line "], payen — AN., a pagan; line 22, quenen — AS. 



1 86 NOTES. 



cwanian, PI. D., kwynen, to mourn, to languiih ; the C. MS. reads tor- 
went ; line 23, in ouer mirkejies — the C. MS. reads /;/ luekyll mirk fiefs. 

Page 129, line 26, unherly — mean, Teut. unherrlich. 

Page 130, line 19, iinthriiiand — unfortunate, the C. MS. reads 
unthreivand. 

Page 131, line 126, helid — concealed. 

Page 133, line ^, gledes — burning coals, AS., gled. 

Page 135, line II, rad — the C. MS. reads raid; line 14, cofles — in 
C. MS. goftes ; line 24, bare-An C. MS. that. 

Page 136, line 6, quale — in C. MS. ivalle, a whale-, elringe — in 
C. MS. heryjige ; line 8, lobbekeling — a kind of fifh ; line \l^ Jlorm — in 
C. MS Jlrenie. 

Page 137, line 4, warties — refules ; line II, catele — goods, property, 
line 19, ivite — or wyte, AS. to reproach. 

Page 138, line 5, ivlaric — A.S. proud; the C. MS. reads ivanlyll ; 
line 6, to dojle — in CI, MS. togeder youjle. 

Page 139, line I, Pers — in C. MS. Peres ; line 5, okering — ufury, in 
C. MS. occuryng •, line 6, corftng — the C. MS. reads curjying. 

Page 140, line 1 1, ivill of ivan — at a lofs for a place of fecurity. 

Page 141, line 7, tiedet^es — adders ; line 9, atfhes — water newts ; line 

14, that arc he fperid — he ftiut the cheft ; the C. MS. reads he ajhed a 

fwerde; line 25, tale — reckoning, to give no tale, to make no account of. 

Page 142, line 7, for haft — read hafd; the C. MS. reads hafd he na 
hope; line 23, luanes — dwelling. 

Page 143, line ^.fertered — enfhrined, AN. fertre, a fhrine. 

Page 145, line 3, hufhatid — AS. a farmer-, line 12, hine — farm 
labourers. 

Page 146, line 16, lathe — a barn. 

Page 147, line \(),ftthe^ times, AS. ri(S, time, occafion. 

Page 148, line 3, And of this fede — the original of this curious tale is 
not to be found in Jerome's works. A ftory fomewhat fimilar is 
related in the Life of St Godric, publiflied by the Surtees Society 



NOTES. 



187 



(p. 248). Line 6, ivafii — in C. MS. nvyldernes ; line 9, boyjies — AN. 
boxes ; line lo, ampolies — AN. fmall bottles, in Latin, ampullae-, the 
C. MS. reads verves; line 20, houfel — ^in C. MS. houfyll. 

Page 149, line 12, doht — AS. dugan, to avail or profit; line 20 
hatte — pr. of hight, called. 

Page 151, line I, eft — again ; line ^,frain — AS. fregnan, to inquire; 
line 9, chaffar — bargaining, AS. ceapian ; line 10, lurdanes — AN. 
clowns, lluggards ; line 12, lache — drive; in C. MS. chajje; line 1 9, for 
chare, probably read thare; line lo^founde — AS. to go towards. 

Page 152, line I, tele — deceive; line 9, fch'ille — AS. fcelan, to 
feparate. 

Page 1 54, line 9, Roh — probably for rov^ AS. reov, cloth ; the 
C. MS. reads Bot ; line 12, hrokel — in C. MS. bryfell; fee note to p. 1 20, 
1. 5 ; neys — in C. MS. nefch, foft. 

Page 155, line 18, lay — AS. religious obfervance. 

Page 156, line 12, habad — in C. MS. abayd\ line 26, for uen read 
^en. 

Page 158, line 8, torfir — hardfhip, Scot, torfeir, torfer ; martyrye — 
AN. torture ; line 25, douf—m C. MS. donve — a dove. 
■ Page 159, line 12 iox feyght, xe2idifeyght. 

Page 160, line 24, cerges — tapers. 

Page 161, line 3, reuejled — clothed. 

Page 162, line 6, fleece — in C. MS. Jlrenhh ; line II, raht — AS. 
raecan, to extend; line l/\, Jlec — ^in C. MS. Jleked, AS. ftigan, to get 
up ; line 2 2 , avifion — a vifion. 

Page 164, line 4, fyfel — in C. MS. bujjy, fee note to p. 112, 1. 2 ; 
line 15, That mat ye Je, &c. The original of this tale appears among 
the ancient French Fabliaux, and an account of it will be found in 
Le Grand's "Contes Devots" (p. 18), under the title "De 1' Abbes qui 
devient enceinte;" line 20^ fueland — ^in C. MS. fpreuland. 

Page 165, line ^S.fpenfe — ^in C. MS. Jpenjar^ a butler ; line 22, dern 
— fecret, AS. 



NOTES. 



Page 1 66, line 26, daiv — a day, AS. daeg. 

Page 167, line 2, herbere — a garden; in C.MS, arbar ; line ll, 
JVreyed — betrayed; line l6, forthoht — fufpefted ; line 22, That the 
b^ifchop, &c. This line, to the end of the text, is printed from the 
C. MS., Gg. V. 31 j line 26, dreght — AS. dreogan, to fuffer. 

Page 169, line 1 6, aldyr fryjie — firfl: of all; the Ash. MS. reads 
cdlether firji. 



FINIS. 




Piin/rd /•!/ Neill &f Company, Ednihur^h 



